Royal Man' Yaduveer Wadiyar up for fight with 'Local Man'

Ramesh Siddegowda | NT

Bengaluru: Yaduveer Krishnadutta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the titular head of the Mysore Royal family, is contesting as a BJP candidate from Mysuru-Kodagu constituency in the 2024 parliamentary polls.

In an exclusive conversation with News Trail during his campaign in Krishnaraja assembly segment in Mysuru city, he shared his plans for the development of the constituency, and his experience in fighting elections on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s home turf.

NT: You are contesting this election for the first time, seeking votes by conducting roadshows, attending meetings, rallies, touring all assembly segments in Mysuru Kodagu constituency after coming out of your comfort zone. How is your experience?

Yaduveer: I am contesting this election on a BJP ticket and I have now fully plunged into politics.

This is not the first time I am reaching out to the public. As a member of the Royal family, I attended various public meetings, events at educational institutions, religious gatherings, and events at institutions run by Mysore Palace.

I am also involved in various missions, drives against plastic menace, cleanliness, conservation of heritage and protection of culture.

But seeking votes by criss crossing several villages, streets, and gullies in cities and towns along with BJP and JD(S) activists is totally a new experience for me.

NT: How is the response from the public?

Yaduveer: Wherever I conduct campaigns and meet the public, people are greeting me by giving me a rousing welcome.

Women voters are welcoming me by giving traditional arathi and offering floral tributes to me. Both BJP and JD(S) activists are actively taking part in the campaign wherever I am conducting them.

NT: Your political opponent, the Congress party, is projecting this election as a fight between a royal family member and a common party worker. What is your reaction?

Yaduveer: Well, we are in a democratic setup and in a federal structure. There is no difference between royals and commoners. All are equal under the Constitution.

This is not the first time a royal family member is contesting the election in this constituency. Srikantadutta Narasimharaja Wadiyar represented this constituency thrice.

Like commoners, royal family children including my son are all studying in schools where common children study.

Most of the royal family members including great-grandfather Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar and Srikantadutta Narasimharaja Wadiyar studied in common colleges and educational institutions.

NT: Your Royal family members apparently wanted to remain distant from politics, But you suddenly jumped into politics and you are now contesting on a BJP ticket. What actually made you plunge into politics?

Yaduveer: In today's democratic system, plunging into politics and getting elected as a political party representative is a must to help people, to bring changes in the system, to get involved in the highest decisionmaking institutions like parliament and the assembly to bring transformation and to face societal challenges.

NT: Your Congress opponent says Congress is a better-suited party to contest elections than BJP because of its ideology and development work initiated by the Maharajas of Mysore in the old Mysuru region.

Yaduveer: I am a centrist by ideology. I don’t see any difference in contesting as a BJP candidate.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done a lot of development work for the country in the last ten years of his rule, transforming the lives of crores of people by implementing a slew of development works and by striving hard to make India the third-largest economy in the world.

I wanted to be part of that movement aimed at strengthening the country.

NT: You are contesting in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s home district. How do you view this contest?

Yaduveer: I know, but this constituency was represented by a BJP candidate for the last ten years. The JD(S), which has considerable influence in the constituency is also supporting the alliance.

NT: There was a social media campaign that Mysore royal family members must remain apolitical. What do you have to say about this?

Yaduveer: Because of the respect for the royal family for its development in all areas including the establishment of IISc, donation of land to HAL free of cost, setting up of universities,