Moving from palace to politics: Meet Rajasthan's royals

(This article was at first published in The Economic Times on 29/10/2018.)




JAIPUR: They can have lost their kingdoms, but the urge for power still courses throughout the veins of Rajasthan's royal households. Not simply Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, contributors of the erstwhile ruling households around the state have been trying their good fortune in polls since the first basic elections in 1951-52.

Karni Singh, the former King of Bikaner, was some of the first to make the leap into electoral politics way back in the Lok Sabha elections of 1951-52. Singh's granddaughter, Siddhi Kumari, is now carrying at the legacy of the maharaja-turned-MP, having been elected two times as a legislator from the family's pocketborugh of Bikaner east on a BJP price tag.
The newest to jump into the bandwagon is the scion of the erstwhile Jaisalmer royal family Raseshwari Rajya Lakshmi, the spouse of Maharawal Brijraj Singh. She announced her access into politics on Jaisalmer’s 863rd basis day on August 23 however is but to enroll in any birthday party.

“People need me to serve them thru politics. I've made up our minds to contest,” she advised journalists about her resolution.
Raseshwari Rajya Lakshmi is a Sisodiya Rana princess of Nepal who were given married to the Jaisalmer royal family in 1993. She would not be the first one from the Jaisalmer royal family to enter politics. In 1957, former Maharaja Raghunath Singh was elected to Parliament, while Hukum Singh completed two terms as MLA from 1957-67. Later, Chandraveer Singh, uncle of present scion Brijraj Singh was elected as MLA in 1980 followed by way of Dr. Jitendra Singh, who had a truncated term of 3 years (1990-93). Since then, no member of the Jaisalmer royal family may just win an election.

The Jaipur royal family has a wealthy tradition of collaborating in electoral politics. Diya Kumari, daughter of the erstwhile maharaja of Jaipur, Brigadier Bhawani Singh (retd.), is a member of state meeting representing BJP. Her father Bhawani Singh had contested Lok Sabha elections in 1989 on a Congress price tag however lost.

“Diya has inherited the appeal and political acumen from her grandmother Rajmata Gayatri Devi, one of the founders of Swatantra Party, who represented Jaipur parliamentary constituency from 1962 to 1971,” mentioned Rajendra Khangarot, a political analyst.

The Jodhpur royal family has an illustrious record in electoral politics. The erstwhile maharaja of Jodhpur Hanwant Singh contested for the first time in 1952 and defeated the former chief minister of Rajasthan Jai Narayan Vyas. Later he died in a airplane crash. His spouse Krishna Kumari continued his legacy and was Member of Parliament from Jodhpur in 1971. Another scion of Jodhpur royal family Chandresh Kumari additionally carried on their legacy to transform a Member of parliament from Jodhpur.

The royal family of Kota has additionally been energetic in politics. Former maharaja Brijraj Singh have been Member of Parliament (MP) from Jhalawar while his son Ijyaraj Singh remains to be energetic in electoral politics. He was elected as MP from Kota in the 2009 elections, however lost in 2014. Now he's once more on the point of contest the impending meeting elections.

Vasundhara Raje, who belongs to erstwhile Gwalior royal family and is married to former Dholpur royalty. is probably the most distinguished some of the royals in politics. She has been chief minister two times and a minister of state at the centre as soon as. Her son Dushyant Singh is also an MP from Jhalawar-Baran.

"Her success in politics has encouraged royal families to involve more in electoral politics. She had been instrumental in bringing Bikaner's Siddhi Kumari and Karauli's Rohini Kumari to the Rajasthan assembly," mentioned Rameshwar Singh, a Rajput historian.

Among the opposite distinguished royals in politicians are scions of the Bharatpur royal family, Vishvendra Singh and his spouse Divya Singh. Vishvendra Singh is a sitting MLA of the Congress, while his spouse Divya Singh was elected MP from Bharatpur on a BJP price tag.

Jitendra Singh, member of erstwhile Alwar royal family. is also energetic in Congress. He was a minister in Manmohan Singh's cabinet sooner than he was two times elected legislator from Alwar on Congress price tag.

"Rajasthan politics has been home to erstwhile royalties for long," Rameshwar singh mentioned."Some of them see this as a way of protecting whatever remains of their royal legacies while others see it as a way to further their political careers."