Jamshedpur, Feb. 24: What is the common thread that binds women like Muktidani Sumbrui, Abha Mahato, Joba Manjhi and Sumitra Murmu? Or for that matter men like Sudhir Mahato, Abhay Singh “Ujjain” and Nirbhay Singh.

They are all politicians hailing from Singhbhum. But apart from this, there is another similarity between these politicians. They have all followed in the footsteps of the elders in the family and taken the plunge into politics.

The trend of family members following in the footsteps of elders — be it their father, husband, brother or even in-laws — and taking the plunge into active politics in Singhbhum, is gradually gaining momentum. If the present trend is any indication, it is going to “grow and flourish” in the days to come.

The latest addition to this “growing list” is Shivani Singh, the eldest daughter-in-law of former district Congress president K.P. Singh. Shivani, who till the other day was nothing more than a housewife and a dutiful mother, has joined the women’s wing of the district Congress, of which she has been made the general secretary.

If Congress insiders are to be believed, another novice in politics from the Singh family can make a similar move. The trend began in Singhbhum in the late Sixties. Muktidani Sumbrui, wife of the old war horse in Jharkhand politics and the Congress legislator, Bagun Sumbrui, followed her husband into politics.

Mutkidani, who passed away a couple of years ago, was a legislator from Chaibasa and had even held the post of a minister in erstwhile Bihar.

In the next two decades, leaders like Joba Manjhi (a minister in the NDA government) and Sudhir Mahato (JMM general secretary and former legislator) entered active politics. Calamity struck their families, which apparently forced them into this profession.

Both Devendra Majhi, husband of Joba Manjhi, and Nirmal Mahato, the elder brother of Sudhir Mahato, were killed by political rivals. Party supporters egged on Joba and Sudhir to fight the poll and since then they never looked back.

However, the family made inroads into politics in a big way in 1990 when a series of novices like Abha Mahato (wife of former Jamshedpur MP Shailendra Mahato), Abhay Singh “Ujjain” (son of finance minister M.P. Singh), Abhay Singh (district BJP president and son of veteran BJP leader late Dhurander Singh) and Sumitra Mumru (wife of Salkan Murmu) threw their hats into the ring.

“There’s no harm if the family members join politics. My daughter in-law has sought my suggestion and blessing before taking a decision. I encouraged her,” said K.P. Singh. But why Congress? “Simply, because she likes the party because of its policies,” Singh said.

But a section of politicians that the The Telegraph spoke to felt that it was easier for the younger members of a family to establish themselves when the elder one had firm roots in politics.