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Royals add colour to MP's electoral battle

As many as 20 candidates, belonging to the royal families of erstwhile states, are testing their electoral fortunes in the assembly election in Madhya Pradesh.

While the Congress has nominated 13 candidates belonging to royal families, the Bharatiya Janata Party has put up seven such nominees.

Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, who belongs to the royal family of Raghogarh, is contesting that seat. His father, Balbadhra Singh was elected to the first Vidhan Sabha as an Independent.

Members of the former Khairagarh state, active in politics, are also in the fray. Gita Devi Singh, wife of Shivendra Bahadur Singh, former Congress MP, is trying to achieve a hat-trick from Dongargaon in Rajnandgaon district.

Another candidate belonging to this family, Dev Vrat Singh is in the fray from Khairagarh. The seat was represented consecutively for four times by Rashmi Devi Singh of the same family from 1980 to 1993.

The contribution of the former Sarayapali state is no less. Sitting MLA Mahendra Bahadur Singh, who was elected last time as an Independent, is contesting from Basana (Mahasamand) on the Congress ticket.

Congress legislator Ram Chandra Singh Dev is attempting a hat-trick from Baikunthpur in West Sarguja district. In 1990, he had won for the first time as an Independent.

Another Congress MLA Surendra Bahadur Singh, the former ruler of Sakti state, is seeking re-election from Sakti (Janjgir-Champa).

The members of erstwhile Rewa state have found berths in both the Congress and the BJP. Congress legislator Pushp Raj Singh, son of Maharaja Martand Singh, is once again in the battleground of Rewa, trying to score a hat-trick. His mother, Pushpa Devi Singh, who is now active in the BJP, had lost the Lok Sabha election twice, in 1989, when she was in the Congress, and in 1996 after moving over to the BJP.

State Congress president Urmila Singh, wife of Raja Virendra Bahadur Singh, is trying for a third term from Ghansaur (Seoni), a seat reserved for scheduled tribes.

Rao Shiv Bahadur Singh's family has also remained active in politics. His son, former chief minister Arjun Singh, is now active in central politics. The latter's son, Ajeya Singh, is trying his luck from Churhat (Sidhi). He won two by-elections from there, but lost the 1993 assembly election to BJP veteran and former chief minister Sunderlal Patwa from Bhojpur.

Shivmohan Singh, another relative of Arjun Singh, is contesting from Amarpatan seat replacing his son, Industry Minister Rajendra Singh who was denied the ticket.

The Scindia family of Gwalior is also active in the political scene. While Vijaya Raje Scindia, her brother Dhyanendra Singh, daughters Yashodhara Raje and Vasundhara Raje belong to the BJP, her son Madhavrao is the Congress general secretary.

Dhyanendra Singh, who could not complete his poll hat-trick from Murar (Gwalior) being defeated last time, is again in the fray from the same constituency.

Denying the ticket to the sitting legislator, the BJP has fielded Yashodhara Raje in Shivpuri. Another relative of Vijaya Raje Scindia, Bhanu Rana, is contesting from Devri (Sagar).

The BJP has also given the ticket to three of its sitting MLAs including Ramdeo Singh of the Nagod family from Nagod (Satna), Tukoji Rao Pawar of the former Dewas state from that seat and Dr Karan Singh of Kavardha from that constituency.

Yet another candidate of royal lineage is sitting BJP legislator Kunwar Vijay Shah, who is in the fray from Harsud (Khandwa).

Curiously enough, members of the Holkar family of Indore have so far kept away from politics.

UNI

Assembly Election '98

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