Son-rise in Indian Politics

Rahul Gandhi  The scion of the Nehru-Gandhi clan is being projected by many as the future 'prime minister' of the nation. Claim to Fame: Son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and current UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Poltitical Party: Indian National Congress Constituency: Amethi in Uttar Pradesh Education: M.Phil. in Development Economics, Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge University.   Sachin Pilot     The suave MP is one the most net savvy members in the current Lok Sabha. Claim to Fame: Son of former Union Minister Rajesh Pilot and former MP Rama Pilot Poltitical Party: Indian National COngress Constituency: Dausa in Rajasthan Education: B.A. (Hons), MBA Educated at St. Stephens College, University of Delhi, and Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. Raj Thackeray  The firebrand leader has often had a brush with the law. Activists of his party -- the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena -- had last year unleashed violence against north Indians residing in Mumbai. Claim to Fame: Nephew of Shiv Sena leader Balasaheb Thackeray. Poltitical Party: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Constituency: While Thackeray might not contest the forthcoming election, his Maharashtra Navnirman Sena could play a spoiler in some constituencies. Education: BFA from JJ College of Arts, Mumbai Jitin Prasada A young political leader with wide-ranging interests, Jitin Prasada has a prominent lineage to boast of. Born on 29 November, 1973, Jitin has a keen interest for social service. Claim to Fame: Son of former Union minister Jitendra Prasada. Poltitical Party: Indian National Congress Constituency: Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh Education: MBA, Educated at Sri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi and IMI, Delhi   Milind Deora Milind Deora was elected to Parliament in the 2004 general elections from the prestigious South Mumbai constituency at the age of 27, making him one of the youngest MPs ever. Claim to Fame: Son of Petroleum Minister Murli Deora. Poltitical Party: Indian National Congress Constituency: South Mumbai in Maharashtra Education: BBA, Educated at Sydenham College, Mumbai and Boston University, USA   Kanimozhi Born in 1968 in Chennai, Kanimozhi is a Tamil poetess, journalist and politician. She became a Rajya Sabha member in 2007. Claim to Fame: Daughter of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. Poltitical Party: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Constituency: Rajya Sabha member from Tamil Nadu Education: MA in economics from Ethiraj College Chennai Supriya Sule The daughter of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Sule runs schools for tribals, works for disabled & wants her school children to compete with the best. She delared assets worth Rs 42 crore when she was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2006. Claim to Fame: Daughter of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar Poltitical Party: Nationalist Congress Party Constituency: Baramati in Maharashtra Education: B.Sc from Jaihind College, Mumbai   Akhilesh Yadav Akhilesh Yadav has been actively and consistently struggling for the all-round development of the rural poor, farmers, workers and downtrodden. He has spent 90% of the MPLADS funds available to him. Claim to Fame: Son of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav Poltitical Party: Samajwadi Party Constituency: Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh         Education: B.E., M.E. Educated at University of Mysore   Jyotiraditya Scindia Jyotiraditya Scindia, who represents the Guna constituency in Madhya Pradesh, is expected to give a boost to Congress' poll campaign. He will need to prove himself as much more than his father' son Claim to Fame: Son of former Union Minister Madhavrao Scindia Poltitical Party: Indian National Congress Constituency: Guna in Madhya Pradesh         Education: M.A., MBA, Educated at Doon School, Dehradun, Harvard University and Stanford University, California   Sukhbir Singh Badal     The Punjab deputy chief minister has previously been elected to the Lok Sabha twice and also served one term in the Rajya Sabha. Claim to Fame: Son of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Poltitical Party: Shiromani Akali Dal Constituency: Faridkot in Punjab Education: B.A (Hons) Economics, M.A (Economics), MBA Educated at Panjab University, Chandigarh and California State University, Los Angeles (USA)   Rajbir Singh   The son of former BJP leader Kalyan Singh, Rajbir was in the news recently for his entry into the Samajwadi Party, which has promised to field him in the forthcoming elections. Claim to Fame: son of Former UP chief minister Kalyan Singh Poltitical Party: Samajwadi Party D Purandeswari   As a first term Lok Sabha MP from Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh, Purandeswari brought to the fore several problems relating to agriculture, education, public health, science & technology, mother-child welfare, natural calamities, and        the problems faced by weavers and artisans in the country and raise these issues forcefully in the House for appropriate redress. Claim to Fame: Daughter of Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NT Rama Rao. Poltitical Party: Indian National Congress Constituency: Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh Education: B.A. (Literature) and Graduate in Gemology, Educated at South Indian Educational Trust and Women College, Chennai and Gemological Institute of India.   Dayanidhi Maran   Dayanidhi Maran has inherited politics from his late father who dedicated his entire life to the services of the downtrodden and the oppressed classes. He is a voracious reader and takes keen interest in areas of current affairs, political science, social science, commerce, finance, global trade and information technology. Claim to Fame: Son of former Union Minister Murasoli Maran and nephew of DMK chief Karunanidhi. Poltitical Party: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Constituency: Chennai Central in Tamil Nadu Anbumani Ramadoss Anbumani Ramadoss is the youngest minister in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's cabinet. Recently, the health minister was in the news for imposing a nation-wide ban on public smoking. Claim to Fame: Son of PMK founder M Ramadoss Poltitical Party: Pattali Makkal Katchi Constituency: Rajya Sabha Member from Tamil Nadu Agatha Sangma   A lawyer, environmentalist and an amateur photographer, 27-year-old  Agatha Sangma is India's youngest Member of Parliament. Claim to Fame: Daughter of former Union minister Purno Sangma. Poltitical Party: Nationalist Congress Party Constituency: Tura in Meghalaya Education: M.A in Environmental Management, Diploma in Cyber Laws, Diploma in Corporate Laws, Diploma in Human   Munnabhai Ki Amar Katha Rights Laws; Diploma in Securities & Investment Laws    Actor Sanjay has decided to plunge into politics. The Samajwadi Party has announced his candidature from Lucknow. His association with the SP is surprising given that his father Sunil Dutt was a Congress member of Parliament. Dutt's sister Priya Dutt is a Congress MP from the Mumbai North West constituency. However Dutt's conviction under the Arms Act in the 1993 riots case could hinder his political ambitions. Image: Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt waves to the crowd, after announcing he would contest the forthcoming Parliament elections on an Samajwadi Party ticket, from Lucknow on January 17, 2009.