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When Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah took over the reins of the National Conference from his father, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, the local media was full of stories about the rise of sons, daughters and sons-in-law in the state politics.
With Omar's coronation, the third generation of the Farooq family took over the party. Twenty-one years ago, party founder Sheikh Abdullah had coroneted his son Farooq.
Though some party leaders are unhappy with the Abdullahs, they do not speak out lest they are shown the door by Omar.
"This is not happening in politics only, but it happens in the other fields as well like in sports, music, business etc," Omar told rediff.com when asked why there had been a sudden rise of sons and daughters in Kashmir politics.
But the Abdullahs are not the only ones to pass on the baton to the younger generation.
J&K Minister of State for Tourism Sakina Itoo is the daughter of Wali Mohammad Itoo, a former minister who was gunned down by terrorists.
Former Union home minister and president of the J&K People's Democratic Party, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, is promoting his daughter Mehbooba Mufti as his political heir.
After the assassination of All Party Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Gani Lone, his two sons Sajjad and Bilal are carrying forward his legacy.
Rajinder Handoo, son of former state minister Pyarelal Handoo, is being groomed to take over his father's position in the National Conference.
Dr Sajjad Uri, son of state Minister of Education Mohammad Shafi Uri, is planning to contest the upcoming assembly election from his father's constituency in downtown Srinagar.
Gulam Mohammed Shah, president of the Awami National Conference and brother-in-law of Farooq, is encouraging his son Muzaffar Shah, a noted advocate, to take over from him.
"We have lost the count of political sons and daughters. There are many about who we may not have even known because of their lesser-known fathers. But it is certain that the disease of grooming sons and daughters in the valley has caught up like plague," remarked a senior journalist of a local newspaper.
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