Dynasty is a lazy word for political succession: Jairam Ramesh

Mumbai:  Dynasty is a “lazy” word coined to describe succession in politics, but public representatives have to ultimately go back and get elected, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Sunday. He said the country’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru did not launch a dynasty, and that the people who overwhelmingly voted for then premier Indira Gandhi in 1971, threw her out of power in 1977. Mr Ramesh was speaking at a discussion on ‘Remembering Indira Commemorating Her Centenary’ at the Tata Litfest 2017 here.

“Did Nehru launch a dynasty? No. Did Mrs Gandhi select her successor? Well, it appears that she did select her successor, but my views on dynasty in politics are somewhat different. I think ultimately, people  have to go back and get elected,” he said.

“People are accountable. And the same electorate which gave Mrs Gandhi a huge mandate in 1971, threw her out in 1977. Dynasty is a lazy word coined to describe succession in politics. There is accountability, you go back to the people,” he said.