Who Are Diya Kumari, Prem Bairwa: Jaipur 'Princess' Among Rajasthan Deputy CMs

As Bhajanlal Sharma was chosen to become Rajasthan CM, Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa have been appointed Deputy Chief Ministers. Know about the deputies.

In a surprising move, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced Bhajanlal Sharma as the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan after its recent victory in the state assembly polls. The decision was revealed after BJP MLAs convened, electing 56-year-old MLA Bhajanlal Sharma from Sanganer as the leader of its legislature party.

Besides him, Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa have been appointed Deputy Chief Ministers, with Vasudev Devnani taking on the role of the Speaker of the state assembly. The decision was conveyed by senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh, who led a team of central observers overseeing the meeting.

Who Is Diya Kumari — 'The Princess Who Walks On The Streets'

Diya Kumari, a prominent figure in Rajasthan politics, expressed her commitment to ensuring good governance for the people of the state. Hailing from the royal family of Jaipur, she has been a member of the BJP since 2013 and has consistently secured victories in the elections she contested. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Diya Kumari won from Rajsamand with a substantial margin of over 5.5 lakh votes.

A member of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur, Diya Kumari was born in 1972 and is the granddaughter of Man Singh II, the last ruling Maharaja of Jaipur. Her father is former Jaipur royal, Sawai Bhawani Singh, a distinguished military figure who earned acclaim during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. Serving as a Lieutenant Colonel and Commanding Officer of the Para Commandos of the 10th Parachute Regiment, he played a pivotal role in the military operations during that period, as per news agency PTI.

Diya Kumari's appeal during the elections was crafted around her identity as the "daughter of Jaipur" and the "princess who walks on the streets," blending regal heritage with a relatable persona.

Who Is Prem Chand Bairwa — BJP's Dalit Face In MP

Named as the Deputy Chief Minister alongside Diya Kumari, Prem Chand Bairwa is a Dalit face in the BJP and the sitting MLA from the Dudu constituency. Born in 1974, Bairwa is a Ph.D. holder from the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur. Known for his academic background and political acumen, Bairwa staged a comeback by winning the Dudu constituency in the 2023 Rajasthan Assembly Elections with a margin of over 35,000 votes against Congress candidate Babulal Nagar.

Before this victory, Bairwa had previously won the Dudu constituency in 2013 by defeating Congress candidate Hazari Lal Nagar with a margin of 33,720 votes. However, he faced defeat in 2018 from the Dudu constituency by Congress candidate Babu Lal Nagar.

In the Rajasthan assembly elections, the BJP secured 115 seats out of 199 while the Congress got 69 seats. Elections were held on 199 of the 200 seats as polling in Karanpur was deferred due to the death of Congress candidate and sitting MLA Gurmeet Singh Koonar. Polling will now be held on January 5.