Royalty still rules in Rajasthan. In this elections, six members of erstwhile royal families of Rajasthan were in contention. Out of that five won – all from BJP while Vishvendra Singh, member of former royal family of Bharatpur contesting on Congress ticket lost the election.
Vasundhara Raje
Two time former chief minister of Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje has lineage with two erstwhile royal families – Dholpur and Gwalior. While she is daughter of Gwalior royal family, she is also daughter of-in-law of Dholpur royal family. He mother Vijaya Raje Scindia of Gwalior royal family is among the founders of BJP. Her sister had been cabinet minister in Madhya Pradesh while Jyotiraditya Scindia – son of senior Congress leader later Madhav Rao Scindia – has left Congress to join BJP as union cabinet minister. She won the elections by over 50,000 votes.
Diya Kumari
Diya Kumari, member of erstwhile royal family of Jaipur, has a rare distinction of winning elections from three different places. She debuted in politics as MLA from Sawai Madhopur and then elected as member of parliament from Rajsamand. Now she contested from Jaipur's Vidyadharnagar and emerged winner from this seat also. Her grandmother Rajmata Gayatri Devi has been member of parliament twice while her father Brigadier Bhawani Singh had contested Lok Sabha election from Jaipur on Congress ticket but lost.
Sidhi Kumari
Sidhi Kumari belongs to erstwhile Bikaner royal family. She has been a three time MLA from Bikaner East since 2008. Now with this victory in 2023, she will be four time MLA. Her father Karni Singh had been member of parliament from Bikaner for 25 years.
Vishvaraj Singh Mewar
Vishvaraj Singh Mewar made a successful debut in politics with this election. He became the giant killer in his first battle defeating Congress stalwart Dr C P Joshi from Nathdwara.
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.
Kalpana Devi
Kalpana Devi is wife of Ijyaraj Singh, who is member of erstwhile Kota royal family. She took plunge in politics in 2018 when she contested assembly election from Ladpur and won on BJP ticket.
Her husband Ijyaraj Singh had been member of parliament from Kota on Congress ticket from 2009 to 2014.
Ijyaraj's father Brijesh Singh had also been member of parliament from Jhalawar. He was elected on the Congress ticket in 1962, and on the Bhartiya Jana Sangh ticket in 1967 and 1972.
Vishvendra Singh
Vishvendra Singh is member of erstwhile Bharatpur royal family. He has been three time MLA and three time member of parliament. He is the only member from royal family who has tasted defeat in this election.
Vivek Shukla is a management graduate who has worked in corporate worked for 20 years and is now pursuing his passion — news.
