MYSURU, 9 MARCH

BJP is considering fielding Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the scion of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family, from the Mysuru-Kodagu constituency in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Speculations are rife that the incumbent MP, Pratap Simmha, might not secure the ticket this time, opening the door for the scion of the royal family. Although Yaduveer's name has been circulating for a while, it has now been proposed in BJP Central Election Committee meeting chaired by Amit Shah.

BJP leaders, including former chief minister BS Yediyurappa have reached out to him, awaiting approval from royal family member Pramoda Devi.

The legacy of the Wadiyars, particularly Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, the son of the last Maharaja of Mysore, Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, holds significant sway in the region. Srikantadatta served as the MP of Mysuru four times, earning respect for the royal family's contributions to education, irrigation, and overall development. Given the reverence for the royal family in Mysuru, the BJP sees potential in Yaduveer's candidacy to sway voters, especially in Old Mysuru region.

In the 2014 General Election, Simmha defeated Congress candidate by 31,608 votes, while in the 2019 election, he trounced the Congress-JD(S) alliance candidate by 1,38,647 votes.