Lok Sabha to host four Gandhis for the first time

New Delhi, May 17 (PTI) In an unparalleled feat for a
political family, four members of India's illustrious
Nehru-Gandhi lineage would simultaneously occupy seats in
India's 15th Lok Sabha, albeit in rival camps.

With firebrand leader of main opposition BJP, Varun
Gandhi making it to the Lok Sabha for the first time,
Parliament will be host to two mother-son duos of India's
first political family representing two main political
parties.

While Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son
Rahul will be part of the ruling coalition, BJP leader Maneka
Gandhi and her son Varun, the saffron party's latest poster
boy will be seated on the opposition benches.

This will be the first time four members of the
family, though from its two estranged factions, will
simultaneously be in the Lok Sabha that has for most part of
its history seen at least one member of the Nehru-Gandhi clan.

The family debuted in Parliament's lower house with
the formidable Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister,
who occupied the seat from 1952 till the time of his death in
1964.

Nehru's son-in-law Feroz Gandhi gave him company for
most of his years in the Lok Sabha. Gandhi, husband of Nehru's
daughter Indira was an MP from Pratapgarh constituency in
Uttar Pradesh from 1952 to 1960.

After a brief absence in Parliament, the Nehru-Gandhi
family returned to the Indian legislature with Indira, who was
elected to the fourth Lok Sabha in 1967 from the constituency
her husband had represented till the time of his death in
1960.

Sanjay Gandhi, the third generation of India's first
family, entered the Parliament in 1977. Touted as a potential
prime minister, Sanjay, however died an untimely death in an
air crash in 1980.

His death, led his elder brother Rajiv, a reluctant
politician, into the political arena. Rajiv was elected to the
Lok Sabha in a by-election in 1981 and continued in the
legislature till 1991, when he was assassinated.

Maneka, the estranged member of the family, also
entered the Parliament in 1989, when she was elected from
Pilibhit constituency representing Janata Dal.

Rajiv's Italy-born wife Sonia, who stayed away from
politics for as many as seven years following her husband's
death, was the seventh member from the celebrated clan to
enter Parliament in 1999.

She was followed by son Rahul, who was elected from
UP's Amethi seat, for the first time in 2004.

Maneka's son Varun, the youngest, the latest and the
most controversial Gandhi family entrant to Parliament has
made his debut in the Lok Sabha with his first victory from
Pilibhit constituency in this elections. PTI KNO
PMR
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