Royals to the fore in MP

The rajas may have lost their kingdoms but several scions of erstwhile royal families are entering the Madhya Pradesh assembly after fighting a battle of different kind to reclaim their past glory.

Known as the land of Scindias, Holkars and a host of small principalties, Madhya Pradesh perhaps had the largest contingent of ex-rulers in the poll fray, many who emerged victorious.

Ex-rulers who have won not only belong to Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party but also parties like Samajwadi Party. There were some independent contestants too.

Prominent among the members of former ruling houses who won the assembly elections include Yashodhara Raje Ccindia of the Gwalior family who contested for the second time from the Shivpuri constituency as a BJP candidate.

Outgoing Chief Minister Digvijay Singh is himself a raja of the erstwhile Raghogarh principalty and Ajay Singh, son of Congress veteran Arjun Singh of the ruling family of Churahat both won this time too.

However, Digvijay Singh's relative and also a member in his outgoing ministry Manavendra Singh was defeated in Bijawar constituency, while his party colleague Pushpraj Singh lost from his traditional Rewa seat.

Erstwhile Chhattarpur royal family member Shankar Pratap Singh, popularly known as Munna Raja, crossed swords with his nephew Vikram Singh alias Nati Raja. The uncle who fought on a Congress ticket was defeated by his nephew, fielded by the Samajwadi Party.

Another prominent royal nominated by the Samajwadi Party was Ashok Veer Vikram Singh, referred to as Bhaiya Raja, in his home turf Pawai. He was defeated.

Tukojirao Pawar of the Devas royal family again fought as a BJP nominee from his home turf and retained his seat, while another ex-royal Kunwar Vijay Shah won the Harsud seat on a BJP ticket.

Rajvardhan Singh of the Dattigaon royal family who contested as the Congress nominee from Badnawar defeated BJP's Khemraj Patidar.

Former minister Yadvendra Singh, another royal, tried his luck as a Samajwadi Party candidate from Tikamgarh after he was refused a Congress nomination. He was defeated by Akhand Pratap Singh of the BJP.