From palace to Parliament: Will it be a cakewalk for Wadiyar scion Yaduveer?

Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the scion of the Mysuru Royal family, whose candidature from the BJP for the Mysuru Lok Sabha seat has become a hot topic of discussion in Karnataka's political circle, is a man of many royal pursuits. He enjoys playing the guitar and the Saraswati Veena, playing tennis, and being a horse racing enthusiast. But as Mysuru’s sitting MP Pratap Simha asked, can the ‘king’ who lives in the palace walk among the people and serve them?

While those who have worked with the 32-year-old vouch for his ability to become a people’s representative, political analysts say winning from the constituency for a royal is not a cakewalk anymore. They say it takes a combination of the royal family name, political party’s popularity and social dynamics to woo voters today.

Who is Yaduveer?

Born on March 24, 1992 in Bengaluru to Swarupa Gopal Raj Urs and Princess Tripurasundari Devi, Yaduveer did his schooling at the city-based Vidyaniketan School and later from Canadian International School. He has graduate degrees in economics and English literature from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, US.

In 2014, he was adopted by Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, wife of his great-uncle Prince Srikantadatta Wadiyar, following the latter’s demise in December 2013. In 2015, he was crowned the ‘Maharaja’ of Mysuru in a royal ceremony at the ‘darbar’ on the occasion of Dussehra, becoming the dynasty’s 27^th ‘king’.

Yaduveer is the grandson of Princess Gayatri Devi, the eldest daughter of the last Maharaja of Mysuru, Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar (Mysore kingdom was acceded to the Union of India). It was Jayachamarajendra who witnessed the merger of his kingdom with the Indian government and held the post of governor after Independence.

Can a royal be a people’s representative?

The royal family still commands respect and love in the old Mysore region. Currently, Yaduveer is in charge of the Mysuru and Bengaluru palaces, royal properties, and institutions. The royal family organises several festivals on palace premises including the world-famous Dussehra festival of Mysuru.

One of the managers at the Mysuru palace said Yaduveer is actively engaged in various social welfare activities and takes preserving culture, environment and heritage seriously.

“Yaduveer is involved in various activities related to heritage, culture, environment, industry, and social welfare through his Bherunda Foundation. He was one of the ambassadors along with his mother, Pramoda Devi Wodeyar, in the cleanliness campaign undertaken by the Mysore Municipal Corporation in 2016 and 2017. In 2018, he was made the tourism ambassador of Old Mysuru region," the manager, who didn’t want to be named, said.

People see me as their brother: Yaduveer

In his swipes at Yaduveerwhile pre-empting his candidature from Mysuru, Simha, who is the constituency’s sitting MP, had said that if the BJP decides to field the royal, it would highlight democracy's essence, as the former would need to engage with ordinary citizens, such as cleaning roads or participating in protests.

Yaduveer, while speaking to the media, sought to address Simha’s reservations against him without naming him.

“I have been with the people for nine years after I became the representative of the Mysuru Kingdom. When you come to public life, you have to be public. People have seen me as their brother. This is an opportunity to pay off people's debt," he said.

He said that his jump to politics was not sudden and that he has been in the public eye for the past nine years.

“If we have power, we can improve the lives of people. If a good government is formed, then we can achieve development. I have been a part of the public life of our constituency and our state for the past nine years and have had the opportunity to meet many people,” he said.

Do royals still hold sway over public?

This is not the first time a royal is entering the election arena in the Mysuru constituency. Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, the 26 head of the Wadiyar dynasty, was a four-time Congress MP from the constituency. He lost the Lok Sabha elections twice, once as a BJP candidate and once as a Congress candidate.

The electoral landscape, however, underwent significant changes post the delimitation exercise in 2009.

“The inclusion of Kodagu district in the Mysuru constituency and shifting caste dynamics have altered voter sentiments, challenging the dominance enjoyed by the royal family in electoral politics. While the respect for the royal lineage endures, contemporary electoral trends suggest a more nuanced approach to candidate selection, driven by issues of governance and development,” Ramaraje Urs, a close associate of the Mysuru royal family, told The Federal.

Political commentator C Rudrappa said that while the royal family's influence historically contributed to electoral victories, the main factors remain the political party's popularity and strength. He cited the Janata Party's sway in the Congress stronghold and its subsequent split, bolstering BJP support.

Rudrappa emphasised the significance of public sentiment, caste dynamics, and community affiliations in determining electoral outcomes. While acknowledging the reverence towards the royal family, he underscored the multifaceted nature of winning elections, which encompasses broader political currents and societal dynamics.

Rudrappa's insights reflect a nuanced understanding of the interplay between tradition, politics, and contemporary realities in electoral contests.

“Mysuru Lok Sabha constituency has eight Assembly constituencies, where five are represented by the Congress, two by the JD(S), and one by BJP. So, it is not so easy to guess who will be the frontrunner in elections," he added.

Candidature from Congress

The upcoming election in this constituency hinges largely on the strength of the Congress candidate. Two potential contenders have emerged: K Lakshman, a Vokkaliga leader and Congress spokesperson, and Suraj Hegde, grandson of former chief minister Devaraj Urs.

If Hegde, a prominent figure within the Congress hierarchy, chooses to challenge Yaduveer, history may echo the contest between Chandraprabha Urs and Srikanthadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar in the 90s. Hegde's candidacy could mobilise AHINDA voters, while Lakshmana may appeal to a different segment of the electorate. With Vokkaliga votes potentially splitting due to JD(S)-BJP alliances, securing both Vokkaliga and AHINDA support poses a formidable challenge for Yaduveer and the BJP.