By PK Gupta
There were talks that scion of Udaipur royal family Lakshyaraj Singh, son of Arvind Singh Mewar would take a plunge in politics. Lakshyaraj Singh was said to be in touch with leaders of both the parties. But few days back his cousin Vishvaraj Singh, son of Mahendra Singh Mewar sprang a surprise and joined BJP amid a big fanfare. Now he is tipped to be the BJP contestant from either Udaipur or Nathdwara seat in assembly election. He may be made to contest Lok Sabha election from Chittorgarh or Rajsamand from where Diya Kumari, who brought him in BJP, is the MP.
Mahendra Singh Mewar is elder brother of Arvind Singh Mewar, who is the chairman of HRH Group of Hotel.
According to sources, Lakshyaraj has a keen interest in politics and have met senior leaders of both the political parties. Sources said that people of Udaipur were expecting Lakshyaraj to contest from Udaipur seat after the exit of Gulab Chand Kataria from Rajasthan political scene. Kataria is now serving as Governor of Assam. But Vishvaraj's entry in politics from Mumbai instead of Lakshyraj took everyone by surprise.
“Now that Vishvaraj has joined BJP, Lakshyaraj is unlikely to join the saffron party. As the general policy of the BJP says that ticket should be given to one member from a family. This restricts chances of both the brothers (cousins),” said a person close to Lakshyaraj adding that Lakshyaraj may then think of joining Congress.
Lakshyaraj's father Arvind Singh Mewar may not have entered politics formally but he has been to social service throughout.
“He along with Lakshyaraj keeps organising programmes to serve poor and needy people and social service like politics is another way of touching people's lives,” said a person of his close coterie.
Vishvaraj's father Mahendra Singh Mewar had contested Lok Sabha elections thrice – won once on BJP ticket from Chittorgarh in 1989 but lost two elections on Congress ticket from Chittorgarh in 1991 and Bhilwara in 1996.
Bhagwat Singh Mewar, grandfather of both the erstwhile Prince, was a cricketer. He played 31 first class matches for both Rajputana cricket team as well as Rajasthan cricket team. He scored 846 runs at an average of 18.35 and took five wickets in his career spanning from 1945-46 to 1961-62
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