Rajasthan 'Maharaja' & BJP MLA Clash Over 'Right' To Royal Throne Of Udaipur; Stone-Pelting Outside Palace

Vishvaraj Singh was anointed as the head of the erstwhile royal family in Chittorgarh fort, following the demise of his father Mahendra Singh Mewar earlier this month.

Vishvaraj Singh's coronation.

Source : Istagram/@theroyalfamilyofmewar

Hours after BJP MLA Vishvaraj Singh was anointed the titular head of the erstwhile royal family of Mewar on Monday, he and his supporters were camped outside the Udaipur City Palace after he was denied entry to the palace to pay obeisance.

Udaipur: A dispute within the former royal family turned violent as supporters of MLA Vishvaraj Singh clashed with City Palace representatives, leading to stone-pelting.

The conflict arose over access to the Dhuni Mata site for rituals. Vishvaraj Singh has been at the site with… pic.twitter.com/xQQUy29qFo

— IANS (@ians_india) November 25, 2024

Vishvaraj Singh was anointed as the head of the erstwhile royal family in Chittorgarh fort that morning, following the demise of his father Mahendra Singh Mewar earlier this month.

However, the event was overshadowed by a lingering feud between Mahendra Singh Mewar and his estranged younger brother Arvind Singh Mewar, both are descendants of Rajput king Maharana Pratap. The situation outside the palace was tense BJP MLA and his supporters were camped outside the city and police were deployed to prevent any untoward incident. Stones were hurled from inside the palace, as per PTI.

#WATCH | Udaipur, Rajasthan: Dispute within the former royal family turned violent as supporters of BJP MLA Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, who was crowned as the 77th Maharana of Mewar, clashed with City Palace representatives, leading to stone-pelting.

After the coronation ceremony… pic.twitter.com/4KU6nASAUE

— ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2024

Arvind Singh had also issued a public notice against the newly anointed royal family head's planned visit to the Eklingnath temple of the family deity and the City Palace as per royal ceremony rituals. He controls both the temple and the palace as he is chairman and managing trustee of Shree Eklingji Trust in Udaipur.

Policemen were deployed outside the gates of the City Palace to maintain law and order after Arvind Singh's notices were issued in the morning. His notices published in local newspapers warned of legal action for trespass or damage to the property.

#WATCH | Rajasthan | Gates of Udaipur's City Palace were closed today due to an alleged family dispute involving Vishwaraj Singh Mewar who was coronated in Chittorgarh today; Heavy police deployment was seen pic.twitter.com/aL2I3PP3zx

— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) November 25, 2024

Following the ceremony in Chittorgarh fort, Vishvaraj Singh and his supporters reached Udaipur in the evening to visit the City Palace and the Eklingnathji temple but they could not enter due to heavy police deployment. Vishvaraj Singh's supporters tried to cross the barricading but the police stopped them.

Rajasthan: A protest erupted outside Udaipur City Palace as Vishwaraj and his supporters attempted to enter. Udaipur DM and SP Yogesh Goyal are working to calm the situation and resolve the conflict pic.twitter.com/C7fwvLGARj

— IANS (@ians_india) November 25, 2024

Udaipur collector Arvind Poswal and Superintendent (SP) Yogesh Goyal as well as other senior police officials spoke to Vishwaraj Singh and his supporters to find a way to resolve the issue. They also spoke to Arvind Singh's son but the talks ended without any resolutions.

After being denied entry, the MLA went to Jagdish Chowk with his supporters, barely a few metres away from the City Palace.