The Haryana Assembly elections have once again highlighted the enduring influence of political dynasties in the state. As the results pour in, it is evident that the next generation of political heirs has not only taken center stage but has also emerged victorious in several high-stakes contests, defeating seasoned political veterans and maintaining their families’ dominance in Haryana’s political landscape.
Leading the pack is Arjun Chautala, the son of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Chautala, who clinched a significant win from the Rania Assembly constituency. Arjun, despite his earlier failed bid in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Kurukshetra, bounced back to defeat Congress’s Sarv Mitar Kamboj and his grand uncle, former cabinet minister Ranjit Chautala, who contested independently. Notably, Arjun is the sole candidate of the INLD-BSP alliance to secure a victory, underscoring the Chautala family’s resilience in the face of declining support for the party. His win reaffirms the family’s stronghold in Haryana, even amid political headwinds.
In Kaithal, the Surjewala dynasty extended its political legacy with the entry of Aditya Surjewala, son of senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala. Aditya’s victory by a margin of 8,124 votes over sitting BJP MLA Leela Ram has marked the third generation of the Surjewala family to hold sway over the constituency. With his father, Randeep, securing his son’s ticket, this victory cements the Surjewalas as a dominant force in Haryana’s political theater.
Another dynastic success came in the form of Arti Rao, daughter of Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh. Contesting from the Yadav-dominated Ateli constituency, Arti won a tough multi-cornered contest, defeating Attar Lal of the Bahujan Samaj Party and Anita Yadav of Congress with over 56,000 votes. Arti’s victory marks the BJP’s third consecutive win in Ateli, and as a prominent figure in Haryana’s political scene, she is now being seen as a strong contender for a cabinet position in the BJP government.
Vikas Saharan, son of Hisar Congress MP Jai Prakash, also made a notable entry into electoral politics by securing the Kalayat seat.
His unexpected ticket from the Congress surprised many, but his subsequent triumph over former minister Kamlesh Dhanda and INLD’s Ram Pal Majra by a margin of 13,419 votes solidified his status as a rising star in the state’s political sphere.