Tensions flared in Udaipur on Monday following the coronation of BJP MLA Vishvaraj Singh Mewar as the 77th Maharana of Mewar. A confrontation ensued when Singh was denied entry into the historic city palace, now managed by a trust overseen by his cousin, Dr. Lakshay Raj Singh Mewar, and uncle, Shreeji Arvind Singh Mewar.
Supporters of Vishvaraj Singh, angered by the refusal, clashed with those inside the palace gates late into the night, hurling stones and attempting to breach the barricades. Police intervened to control the mob, and three people were reported injured. Singh himself reportedly stood with his supporters for five hours at the site.
The incident follows Singh’s traditional coronation at Chittorgarh Fort, held 12 days after the passing of his father, Mahendra Singh Mewar. The ceremony included rituals steeped in history, such as a raj tilak performed with blood, symbolizing the Mewar dynasty’s lineage dating back to the 8th-century ruler Bappa Rawal and famed warrior Maharana Pratap.
Vishvaraj Singh sought to visit family deities at temples within the city palace, but the trust managing the properties denied entry. Efforts by local authorities to broker a compromise allowing a smaller group into the premises were unsuccessful, leading to the unrest.
The conflict stems from a decades-old family feud over control of palaces, temples, and forts managed by nine trusts. In 1984, the former Maharana of Mewar, Bhagwat Singhji, appointed his younger son, Arvind Singh, as director of the trusts, effectively excluding the elder son, Mahendra Singh, from royal assets.
The Maharana Mewar Charitable Trust issued a public notice earlier, citing concerns of trespass and property damage, and reaffirming its decision to deny entry.
As the dispute escalates, this royal row looks set to leave a lasting mark on Udaipur, the City of Lakes.
