Sweating it out on the road is a bunch of erstwhile royals. They have studied in prestigious institutions, talk in flawless English and along with their political formula, they never step out in the sun without an effective SPF number. They go from door-to-door but do not ask for votes—it’s the ‘loyals’ from their riyasat who do that job.

There are over hundred such descendants of families of zamindaars, rajas and nawabs who are contesting the elections. Their riyasats have long gone but their loyal following remains.

Some of these aspirants are seasoned politicians like Raghuraj Pratap Singh Raja Bhaiya (the uncrowned prince of Kunda in Pratapgarh), Kunwar Anand Singh of Mankapur in Gonda, descendant of Khajoorgaon riyasat in Rae Bareli, Kunwar Devendra Pratap Singh, Kunwar Ajay Pratap Singh of Bargadi Kot riyasat in Gonda and Kunwar Shivendra Pratap Singh of Siswan (Maharajganj). Then there are the first timers, still grappling with the basics of politics.

So what’s got them out on the road?
“We should not always be the recipient, but should also work as a donor,” says Kunwar Ajay Kumar Tripathi, the son of Raja of Sisendi — Vijay Kumar Tripathi —a six time MLA from Lucknow. A Congress candidate from his father’s seat, Ajay who is extremely fond of cricket and tennis, follows a relatively simple lifestyle.

Others on the trail include IT college alumni and Pusa Institute of Hotel Management graduate Rani Shubhrashree, the second wife of Raja Bhinga (Shravasti) Chandramani Kant Singh, who has made her election debut. “I am over fifty, have seen all, done all, now I think is the time to do something for others.”

... contd.