How Vishvaraj Singh Mewar’s Coronation Brought Udaipur City Palace To A Standstill? Royal Feud Explained – News18

Last Updated:November 26, 2024, 11:49 IST

Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, the son of late Mahendra Singh Mewar, was stopped from entering the City Palace in Udaipur to pay obeisance after he was made the 77th Maharana of Mewar. Both his and Mahendra Singh’s estranged brother Arvind Singh’s son Lakshay Singh’s supporters retaliated,…Read More

Udaipur witnessed the erstwhile royal family’s protest spill onto the streets after Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, who was crowned the 77th Maharana of Mewar, was stopped from entering the historic City Palace to pay obeisance.

Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, the BJP MLA, was stopped by his cousin Lakshay Raj Singh Mewar, the son of the current trustee of the palace Shreeji Arvind Singh Mewar, from entering the palace, which led to stone-pelting by Vishvaraj’s supporters.

Lakshay’s supporters too retaliated, resulting in chaos and standoff at the City Palace. There is a heavy deployment of police in the city to prevent any untoward incident.

Why Actually Led To The Chaos In Udaipur?

It was long anticipated that Vishvaraj Singh’s coronation will take place in Udaipur after his father, Mahendra Singh Mewar, had passed away.

Lakshay Singh’s father, Arvind Singh Mewar, had put up notices in the local newspapers warning legal action against those who attempt to trespass or damage the property, in anticipation of Vishvaraj’s arrival at the City Palace as part of the coronation ceremony.

‘Paghdi Dastoor’ (turban ceremony) was conducted at Chittorgah Palace, as part of the coronation ceremony, after which the new ‘Maharana’ was to pay obeisance at the Dhooni Mata Temple inside the city palace and the Ekling Shiv Temple, around 50 km from Udaipur. But since both the temples are run by the trust, owned by Arvind Singh, Vishvaraj Singh was denied entry into the city palace.

Both Mahendra Singh Mewar and his younger brother Arvind Singh Mewar are descendants of the legendary Rajput king Maharana Pratap.

What Is The Family Feud?

The dispute between the royals dates back to 1984 when Vishvaraj Singh’s father Mahendra Singh Mewar went to court against his father Maharana Bhagwat Singh Mewar.

Maharana Bhagwat Singh was the adopted son of Maharana Bhupal Singh who ruled Mewar from 1930 to 1955. Bhupal Singh and his wife Veerad Kunwar had no children after which they adopted Bhagwat Singh from a member of the same family.

Bhagwant Singh had three children – Mahendra Singh, Arvind Singh and Yogeshwari.

Mahendra Singh dragging his father Bhagwant Singh Mewar to the court upset him. As a result, Bhagwant Singh made his younger son Arvind Singh Mewar the heir and the executor of the properties in his will. And Mahendra Singh was excluded from the property and trust.

While Bhagwant Singh died on November 3, 1984, the case dragged on for years until 2020 when the District Court of Udaipur ruled that the properties which Bhagwant Singh had sold during his lifetime will not be included in the claim.

Thus, only three properties – Shambhu Niwas Palace, Badi Pal and Ghas Ghar – remained, as mentioned in a report by The Week. According to the court order, one-fourth of the property was given to Bhagwat Singh, another one-fourth to Mahendra Singh Mewar, one-fourth to sister Yogeshwari and one-fourth to Arvind Singh Mewar.

The court also allowed Mahendra Singh Mewar and his sister Yogeshwari to stay at Shambhu Niwas for four year each, since Arvind Singh was living in the palace for 35 years, the report mentioned. The court has also banned the commercial use of the properties.

However, the Rajasthan High Court overruled the decision of the District Court, and granted Arvind Singh Mewar all rights over the three properties till the final decision was taken.