This refers to the article, “Either family-run or proprietary concerns” (March 7) by Gautam Mukherjee. One way of stopping the formation of political dynasties is to bar a Member of Parliament or an MlA, whether an independent candidate or a party member, from contesting an election for the third term, and also from holding any public office for a period of five years.
Being forced to stay away for five years will invariably lead to the diminishing of his links and status, and allow new leaders to emerge. Another equally essential rule should be to ban any party having a permanent president or chairman from participating in any election.
Dynastic parties like the Congress, the DMK and the Samajwadi Party are antithetical in a democratic country. But it is strange that there is no movement in India to demand the barring of such parties from participation in elections.