Although a parliamentary democracy, Indian politics has increasingly become dynastic, possibly due to the absence of a party organization, independent civil society associations that mobilize support for the party, and centralized financing of elections.[1] Family members have also led the Congress party for most of the period since 1978 when Indira Gandhi floated the then Congress(I) faction of the party.[2] It also is fairly common in many political parties in Maharashtra.[3] The dynastic phenomenon is seen from national level down to district level and even village level.The three-tier structure of Panchayati Raj established in the 1960s also helped to create and consolidate the dynastic phenomenon in rural areas. Apart from government, political families also control cooperative institutions, mainly cooperative sugar factories, district cooperative banks in the state, and since the 1980s private for profit colleges.[4][5] The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party also features several senior leaders who are dynasts.[6][7] In Maharashtra, the NCP has particularly high level of dynasticism.[7]
Below is a partial list of the political families of Maharashtra state in India.