Bengaluru (PTI): The scion of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar on Thursday said he decided to join the BJP as his own belief aligns the party's vision for the development of India.
Wadiyar was named by the BJP as its candidate in Mysuru constituency in the coming Lok Sabha elections, replacing incumbent MP Pratap Simha, on Wednesday.
"There is no concept of Raja' (king) and Praja' (subjects) in modern India and everyone is a common man before God and the law", he said after visiting the BJP state office here, and meeting veteran party leader B S Yediyurappa at his residence.
"I think their (BJP) vision for country in terms of development aligns with my own vision and beliefs and I think, therefore, if you work with an institution, you must align with their cause and so I chose the BJP," the 32-year-old who is entering the poll fray for the first time, said.
Mysuru is the home district of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The Congress is yet to name its candidate for the Mysuru seat.
Wadiyar said he is confident of his victory and welcomed competition.
"I am as confident as one can be. Of course, the Chief Minister has held the bastion for a long time and we too have our own influence. I welcome all competition and I hope that we have a fair fight based on our ability and we will return victorious," he said.
Wadiyar sought to downplay some Congress leaders seeking to promote a narrative that the electoral fight in Mysuru is going to be between "common man vs king".
"Well, it is only a narrative. Before the law and God there is no such thing like a king. Everybody is a common man. So, this is a fight between common man and a common man only. It will be judged by the ability of the candidate," the US-educated Wadiyar said.
Thanking the BJP for giving him an opportunity to contest the election, he said he would strive towards the development of Mysuru and Kodagu districts to bring them up on the world map.
Wadiyar said he decided to join politics as he can bring major changes in the region. "I think politics is the right way to influence the policies and bring in a means to implement at a greater scale of development."
On Pratap Simha, who was the MP for 10 years, being denied re-nomination, Wadiyar said he has spoken to him.
"He (Pratap Simha) has already assured of his support and of course he has already done wonderful work in the last 10 years laying the foundation stone for much of the development of Mysuru. We will continue the good work he has done," he said.
VIDEO | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Here’s what Maharaja of Mysore and BJP leader Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar said on the announcement of his candidature from Karnataka’s Mysore constituency.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 14, 2024
“I am honoured and privileged to have this opportunity to contest the… pic.twitter.com/0nbI8dPXnK
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
New Delhi (PTI): The maximum temperature in Delhi settled at 32.7 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 1.3 notches below the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department.
The minimum temperature was recorded at 20.1 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 1.3 notches below the average for the season, while the relative humidity stood at 46 per cent at 5.30 pm, the IMD said.
The weather department has forecast a partly cloudy sky for Monday with the maximum and minimum temperatures expected to hover around 34 and 19 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The air quality remained 'moderate' at 4 pm, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 134, a slight drop from Saturday’s 137, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.
According to the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
