Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jul 27: Even though scion of the erstwhile royal family of Mysuru, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar has earlier clarified that he is not interested in joining politics, speculations are always rife that different party heads are desperately trying to rope him in.
According to sources, AICC president Rahul Gandhi has given former chief minister Siddaramaiah the task to convince Yaduveer to contest as the Congress candidate from Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha seat in the upcoming 2019 elections.
Rahul had reportedly held talks with Siddaramaiah in New Delhi and had proposed that Siddaramaiah contests the Lok Sabha polls. However, the former CM declined the offer and instead said that he will actively campaign to ensure Congress defeats BJP in the state. It is here that Rahul asked Siddaramaiah to convince Yaduveer. However, Siddaramaiah replied that the Mysuru scion is not showing interest. But yet, Rahul has stressed that the party needs to convince Yaduveer and not leave any chances.
Yaduveer with Maharani Pramoda Devi
The coalition partners JD(S) and Congress in Karnataka are yet to conclude the seat sharing talks with regard to the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. It is said that Siddaramaiah was never happy with the idea of Congress-JD(S) tie-up in Lok Sabha polls and has unwillingly agreed to Rahul’s plan. However, when it came to the Mysuru Lok Sabha seat, Siddaramaiah has stressed not to leave it to the JD(S) and has taken up the responsibility to ensure a win.
During the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections, there were rumours that BJP national chief Amit Shah had met the Wadiyars with the open offer to contest polls. When Yaduveer said he was not ready, Shah asked Maharani Pramoda Devi to contest from Krishnaraja but she remained non-committal on the offer.
BJP sources said Shah’s visit was arranged by father-in-law to Mysuru scion, Trishika’s father Harshavardhan Singh, who is a BJP Rajya Sabha MP.
However, the Mysuru Royal family has kept away from political activities after the after the death of Srikantadatta Wadiyar in December 2013.Maharaja Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar had failed to win the Lok Sabha seat when he contested from BJP after he quit Congress. In 1984, Wadiyar first stood for Lok Sabha elections in Mysuru parliamentary constituency on Congress ticket and defeated independent candidate K. P. Shantamurthy. In 1991, he joined BJP but lost the elections to Chandraprabha Urs of the Congress. He then moved back to the Congress and won Lok Sabha elections twice in 1996 and 1999, but lost again in 2004 Lok Sabha elections.