Mewar Family Feud Unfolds on the Streets of Udaipur Following Royal Dispute

Jaipur, Dec 1 (NationPress) The streets of Udaipur became a stage for stories of ancient royal battles and familial discord as the Mewar royals displayed internal conflicts that have simmered for decades.

This latest episode unfolded shortly after the coronation ceremony of BJP MLA Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, which took place in Chittorgarh. Following the coronation—a tradition in the Mewar dynasty—Vishvaraj intended to perform Dhuni Darshan within the City Palace.

However, this palace is currently held by his uncle Arvind Singh Mewar and his son Lakshya Singh Mewar, who took the unexpected step of closing the City Palace doors before Vishvaraj’s visit.

This led to a series of confrontations, including verbal clashes and physical altercations among supporters, escalating to stone-pelting incidents.

On Tuesday morning, Vishwaraj stood outside the City Palace with his followers, waiting throughout the day and night, only to leave as the palace remained inaccessible. He urged his followers to disperse after the clash resulted in injuries to six individuals due to the violence.

The situation further deteriorated with a flurry of accusations exchanged between Mewar family members, particularly between Vishvaraj and Lakshayraj, while the administration faced scrutiny for its inaction amid the unrest.

In a statement to IANS, Vishvaraj questioned, "Why did the administration and police choose inaction and allow the City Palace doors to remain shut during this turmoil?"

Eventually, officials from Jaipur were dispatched after intervention from CM Bhajan Lal Sharma. It was noteworthy that a situation which could have been resolved the same day lingered for three days before being addressed.

IG Rajesh Meena explained that senior officers are traditionally sent from Jaipur when law and order issues arise, which is why ACS Anand Kumar of the Home Department and ADG (Law and Order) Vishal Bansal were deployed.

The Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar faction argued that the City Palace is under the jurisdiction of a trust, necessitating permission for the visit. "Closing the palace was essential; we cannot compromise our safety or dignity," asserted Lakshyaraj Singh, son of Arvind Singh Mewar.

Questions also arose regarding the intense opposition faced by Vishvaraj Singh Mewar’s anointment as the 77th Maharana of Mewar from his uncle and cousin.

Arvind Singh Mewar and Mahendra Singh Mewar, both sons of the late Bhagwat Singh Mewar, the last titular ruler, have been embroiled in a dispute since their father’s passing in 1984, each claiming the title of the 76th custodian of the House of Mewar.

After three decades of contention, a significant ruling was delivered by an Udaipur District Court in July 2020, dividing the disputed royal property among Bhagwat Singh's three children: Mahindra Singh, Arvind Singh, and Yogeshwari Kumari. Notably, Bhagwat Singh had reportedly intended to bequeath all his property to his younger son, Arvind Singh, due to a rift with his elder son, Mahindra Singh. As of 2024, the grandchildren of Bhagwat Singh Mewar—Vishvaraj Singh and Lakshyaraj Singh—still carry the burden of their families’ strained relations, which were laid bare on November 25.

Thus concluded a chaotic 72-hour saga between two cousins, which kept the government on high alert.