Hitting out at the expanding role of family in all political parties, including its ally, the BJP, “that has made two-thirds of democratic space in the country hostage to families”, Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav has said that he is planning to move a private member's bill to limit the “role of family and dynasty in the country's politics” in the coming Parliament session.

“Our average Indian politician is today first committed to his family, then to his party, and then to his country. No one can aspire to become a Karpoori Thakur or a Ram Manohar Lohia today,” Yadav told The Indian Express on Sunday, explaining the rationale behind his move.

“Except for the Communist parties, and our party, no outfit in the country is free of this ill. The Congress, most of the erstwhile followers of JP and Lohia, and parties in the South are today known for promoting family interests. Even the BJP, that was free of this systemic problem for a long time, has fallen prey to the syndrome,” added Yadav, who enjoys an excellent rapport with BJP president Rajnath Singh.

Contrasting the ongoing ticket distribution by various parties for Assembly elections in the states of Maharashtra with “his own party's resolve to not nominate relatives of party leaders”, Yadav said: “There would be at least 200 MPs in the 15th Lok Sabha who owe their positions to their lineage. Both (Bihar Chief Minister) Nitish Kumar and I were firm, but we did

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