Political parties are showing less interest in fielding members of former royal families of Uttar Pradesh in this Lok Sabha election from the seats where they had influence earlier. Former Raja Sanjay Singh of Amethi, Kunwar RPN Singh of Padrauna (Kushinagar), former princess Ratna Singh of Kalakankar in Pratapgarh and Kunwar Akshay Pratap Singh ‘Gopal Ji’ of Jamo (Amethi) are not in the election race. Similarly, former MLA and former Raja Mahendra Aridman Singh of Bhadawar (Agra) and Begum Nurbano and Nawab Kazim Ali of Rampur are also not in the election contest. In such a situation, his forts also do not have the same color as was visible when he was a candidate.
Former king of Amethi state and former Union Minister Sanjay Singh
Social activist and political analyst Kaushal Kumar Shahi said that many former kings and princes entered politics after the merger of their princely states. He said, “But due to many former kings not getting a chance to contest in this election, the glory of their forts seems to be fading.” Former king of ‘Amethi State’ and former Union Minister Sanjay Singh, who left Congress and joined BJP, Bar is not in the election fray. A person close to him said, “This time there was hope that Maharaj (Sanjay Singh) would be made the BJP candidate in Sultanpur, but the party has again declared Maneka Gandhi as its candidate.”
Former Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh had won the election from Amethi parliamentary seat on BJP ticket in 1998 and became MP from Sultanpur in 2009 as a Congress candidate. Sanjay Singh had lost the election from Sultanpur to Maneka Gandhi in 2019 as a Congress candidate.
Ratna Singh, former princess of Kalakankar state and former MP
The possibility of contesting elections for Ratna Singh, former princess of Kalakankar princely state of Pratapgarh district and former MP, is over, as BJP has again made its sitting MP Sangam Lal Gupta its candidate. Ratna Singh left Congress and joined BJP. Ratna Singh, who stood third as a Congress candidate in 2019 in Pratapgarh, had won elections from here on Congress ticket in 1996, 1999 and 2009, but lost to Apna Dal (S)’s Kunwar Harivansh Singh in 2014 and Sangam Lal Gupta in 2019. She was defeated by BJP and a few years ago she joined BJP.
Kunwar Akshay Pratap Singh alias ‘Gopal Ji’
Kunwar Akshay Pratap Singh alias ‘Gopal Ji’ won the Lok Sabha elections from Pratapgarh in 2004 on Samajwadi Party (SP) ticket. He was the Jansatta Dal (Democratic) candidate from this seat in 2019 but finished third. There is currently no indication of him contesting the elections this time.
Begum Noor Bano of Nawab family
On the other hand, Begum Noor Bano, former MP of Rampur Lok Sabha constituency in western Uttar Pradesh and member of the former Nawab family, at the age of 84, was a contender for ticket from Congress, a major component of the group of opposition parties ‘India Alliance’, but in the agreement, this seat was given to SP. Due to his participation in the scheme, his claim came to an end. His son Nawab Kazim Ali, who was expelled from Congress, is also away from the electoral battle this time, while the leader of ruling BJP’s ally Apna Dal (S) and Kazim’s son Nawab Haider Ali Khan ‘Hamza Mian’ also could not get a chance. Kazim Ali, who contested the elections on Congress ticket in 2014, stood third in Rampur.
Political commentator Rajiv Tiwari said that BJP has mostly bet on its old candidates and MPs while due to SP getting more seats in alliance with Congress, members of former royal families who were with Congress have not been able to get tickets. Of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the Congress in the ‘India’ alliance has got 17 seats, while the Trinamool Congress led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has got one seat (Bhadohi). The remaining 62 seats are in SP’s share.
Aridaman Singh of Bhadawar royal family
Aridaman Singh of Agra’s Bhadawar royal family is a six-time former MLA from Bah assembly seat and has also been a minister in the state government. He contested the 2009 Lok Sabha election as a BJP candidate but lost. His wife Rani Pakshalika Singh is still a BJP MLA from Bah, but she contested the 2009 Lok Sabha election from Fatehpur Sikri as a BJP candidate but stood third. . Pakshalika Singh had lost the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Fatehpur-Sikri seat on SP ticket.
Descendants of former PM VP Singh are also no longer active in politics
The descendants of Raja Ajit Pratap Singh of Pratapgarh and former royal family member of Manda and former Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh are no longer active in politics. Raja Ajit Pratap Singh won the Lok Sabha elections from Pratapgarh in 1962 and 1980. His son Abhay Pratap Singh won the seat in 1991 but grandson Anil Pratap Singh was unsuccessful despite several attempts. (Language)
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