By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, April 21 2019: Dynasty still plays an important role in politics in Odisha with as many as close relatives of seven former Odisha chief ministers are trying their luck in the ongoing four phased Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state. These relatives include sons, daughters, grandsons, one son-in-law and one grand daughter-in-law.

To start with the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and four-time Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, is the son of late Biju Patnaik, the legendary leader who incidentally was opposed to dynastic rule. Naveen is trying his luck for fifth term in power.

BJD’s leader in the Lok Sabha, Bhartruhari Mahtab who is contesting from the prestigious Cuttack Parliament constituency is the son of state’s first chief minister, the late Harekrishna Mahtab. Bhartruhari has been representing Cuttack Lok Sabha seat since 1998.

Former chief minister, the late Nilamani Routray’s grandson, Bishnubrata Routray, is trying his luck on a BJD ticket from Basudevpur assembly constituency in north Odisha’s Bhadrak district.

Former Congress chief minister Giridhar Gomang’s son Sisir Gomango is in the fray from Gunupur assembly constituency in tribal-dominated Koraput district on a BJP ticket while another Congress chief minister J B Patnaik’s son-in-law, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, is contesting the polls on a BJD ticket from Khandapada assembly seat in coastal Khurda district.

Interestingly, former chief minister Hemananda Biswal’s elder daughter, Sunita Biswal is fighting Lok Sabha elections from tribal-dominated Sundergarh seat on a BJD ticket, while his younger daughter Amita is the Congress nominee from Sundargarh town assembly constituency.

The scenario becomes more hilarious in the family of former chief minister the late R N Singhdeo where his grandsons, Kalikesh and Arkesh, have been fielded by the BJD from western Odisha Bolangir Lok Sabha and Bolangir town assembly constituencies respectively. Kalikesh is the sitting MP from Bolangir.