Diya Kumari Wins Rajsamand’s Battle Of Perception In Test Of Loyalty, Shapes The Royal Road To Delhi 

If people's warmth is a reward for displaying electoral fortitude in a debut, Diya Kumari, member of Jaipur rajgharana and former MLA of Sawai Madhopur has received its intangible treasures in Rajsamand. Her second chapter, the larger one, in building the immense reserves of this heritage, has begun.

Gender identity seems to have pushed the atmosphere of royal grandeur, mostly created by the state and national media on Diya Kumari’s candidature, to the background. The feisty woman pradhan from Jaitaran, Rasaal Kanwar, drove to Beawar, one of the eight Vidhan Sabha constituencies here, to tell people that there could not be a better candidate than Diya Kumari. She says, “It is a fight for Narendra Modi. Women like us fight for him."

This intangible heritage could also turn out to be a politically complex one to preserve in her royal repertoire. The Rajsamand constituency, which sees its third Lok Sabha election this year, might have just shaped the way for Diya Kumari - in a role that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) high command has thought for her.

In Rajsamand, Swarajya witnessed people discussing Diya Kumari’s tasks as MP. The constituency was 48 hours away from polling, and people were putting across a rough list of suggestions for the "princess" - for her smooth running between Jaipur, Rajsamand and Delhi, and making calculations on her victory margin. Baffling that there was no murmur on caste grounds. For people outside her campaign circle and grip, it was Modi and Diya Kumari all the way towards Beawar, where caste polity gathers a different pace, as the candidate moves from doongar to doongar. Caste configuration will be rippling into the numerical edge.

Kumari’s campaign deftly makes an attempt to even it out as a candidate from the state, if not from the soil, as a doer and not the one who divides in the name of caste. On ground, she visits every temple in every village panchayat she visits, and steps out blazing in tilaks and heaping garlands of the flaming navrang flower. The red chiffon of her sari stays on her head. At every halt, she is blessed by people with chants of "Jai Shrinath", "Shri Chaarbhuja" and "Jai Shri Krishna".

In Mewar, the strong, gutsy, established and articulate woman leader Kiran Maheshwari, MLA from Rajsamand constituency, was in a formidable position. Diya Kumari’s candidature happened. Local media reports stirred some dust. Maheshwari teamed up with Diya Kumari to campaign for Narendra Modi, and helped her connect with the constituency on ground.

Kumari might have just won Rajsamand - the land and constituency with Rajputs in majority - in the war of perception. She might have been able to recover her narrative in the battle of history involving her gharana, and, the intriguing political undertones which greeted her entry into Mewar.

Some locals say that she will win by 2 lakh votes (lesser than BJP's victory margin in 2014). Her opponent from Congress, Devikinandan Gurjar, is expected to attract the Gurjar community. Two other factors that would stand with him are: he hails from the constituency, and enjoys the "traditional Congress vote." Her road show in Beawar brought the Rawat support out on the streets.

Kumari sets the record straight. Her election campaign and approach is simple. It does not arise from negativity and shoots from the positive achievements of the Narendra Modi government at the centre during the last five years. She says, "We work on development and we talk about developments. We talk about the work done by the BJP government during the last five years, about the policies of the Narendra Modi government."

Where credit is due in the state context, Diya Kumari attributes her entry into politics (in 2013) to former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje. She says, "She has been very supportive. She is a huge source of inspiration. I got into politics because of her; she has a remarkable vision and is a good administrator. Both these aspects together mean that I have a lot to learn from her."

Gender Bonding For Modi

In Rajsamand, women are vocal, assuring and reassuring the candidate that she will win this fight against Congress - owing to their affection. She has breezed into the diverse festival of colours that women voters of Rajasthan bring, in odhanees, chunaris, lehengas and saris, braving the sun.

What's making women come out vocally in this particular woman candidate's support? She is mingling with them. She is fighting her own fight. "She is fighting for Modi." And this makes her come across as even more "courageous".

Women in many villages are busy doing morning chores, including the cutting of vegetables, which, in Emdi, is done around flourishing temple life. Women in villages tell members of  Kumari's team to not worry about anything.

In Beawar, Khangaar Singh, a resident of Jawaja village, becomes slightly impatient with the women folk. "They don't talk when it is time to talk. They are too shy." They have placed trust in Diya Kumari and come all the way for her road show in Beawar, hoping that their needs will finally be addressed.”

Singh turns them to me, asking them to narrate all about the problems they face back in the village. The women say, "We don't have roads in our village, no electricity, no schools for girls and they drop out after class eight. We need a hospital as well." Between Kumari, Maheshwari and the village women, there are signs of strong gender bonding. The royal factor seems to have tucked to the pretty hem - as of now. Mewar and Marwar emotions against those of Jaipur have been embalmed by the emotion for Modi.

She pointedly aligns her views with Modi's and reads the people’s mood. It is done with natural ease. Part of it seems to come from her own upbringing, as a warrior’s daughter, part, from her own seasoned public interaction, and part as member of a royal family.

She tells Swarajya, "No one else will own up responsibility towards every action that goes into nation-building. Agar hum apne ghar ko saaf aur surakshit rakhte hain aur apne ghar ki mahilaaon ke baare mein sochte hain, it means we think of them as our own family."

Manohri Bai, a resident of Emdi, seems more confident than pollsters about BJP winning Rajsamand and the Lok Sabha. She claims "Modi ji danke se fir aayenge. Sab gaanv yahan total Modi hain (Modi will return with a bang, entire villages here support Modi)."

Men pad up the support with movement in villages, dialogue and by gathering people around temples for her jan sampark.

Royal, Yet 'Zameenee'

Diya Kumari might be days and destiny away from becoming the second member of the Jaipur royal family, after Maharani Gayatri Devi, to trounce Congress in a parliamentary election. Maharani Gayatri Devi fought from the Swatantra Party founded by C Rajagopalachari.

As of now, holding a calm demeanour, Diya Kumari has easily walked past the entire narrative that surrounded her entry into Rajsamand as Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, barely less than half a year after the Vasundhara Raje government had to make way for a Congress-led government in the state.

Her opponents have built a "zameenee" versus "royal" narrative. The idea was to throw hurdles before Kumari's feat and feet, by using her royal background in negative electoral parlance. She has her answers and actions ready and whetted. They are as sharp as her studded nose, and in Hindi.

She attacks her opponents. She says, "Aur yeh kya baat kar rahe hain? Sabse badaa vanshvaad to Congress kar rahi hai. Wo Gandhi family se uthkar aur kisee Congress karya karta ko mauka dete hain kya? Hamare yahaan ek chai wala aaj pradhan mantri ban gaya. Kitnee badee baat hai. Kya baat karte hain ye, apne ghar mein jhaanke, fir bolein" (What are these Congressmen saying? They are the biggest perpetuators of dynastic rule. Will the Gandhi family ever support a humble party worker? In BJP, even a tea-seller can become the PM. This is big stuff. These Congress people must look within before commenting).

She adds, "Royal families have contributed to the nation from time immemorial. Royal families have been part of politics. Institutions and infrastructure contributed by the royal family, in Jaipur, and other centres in Rajasthan, speak for themselves. In Jaipur, a hospital, university, railway station, airport, they all stand as the royal family's contribution even today. We are in politics for the contribution and the connect with the people."

Past strikes present. Her tone goes sharper. "Humne azadi ke baad se badee aasaani sab desh azad hua, entitlements surrender kiya, bina kisee argument ke. Kuchh na kuchh trust to hai na logon ka hamare upar, aur credibility hi hai (After Independence, we surrendered all our privileges, without complaining. People do trust us. We certainly have credibility). “People vote for us for that, not because we are royals. This is a democracy."

Diya Kumari's interaction with people of the constituency, the spectacular road show in Beawar, which wrapped up to a dramatic culmination - emotion bursting in support and slogans safe minutes away from the end of her campaign, are strong indications of a new phase in her political career. These, when witnessed on ground, tell that she is fighting this election on two levels. One, in a beginning, the other, in continuity.

Word of mouth has been doing some magic for Diya Kumari. People in Rajsamand have heard about her work and presence as a successful MLA in Sawai Madhopur. During the campaign, members of her team were heard talking about the constant flow of support from people of Sawai Madhopur, who wanted to be around for her on ground.

A parody song based on the popular folk song "engine ki seeti mein maaro mann dolaey" clashes with the heady blaze of the sun in the villages. It would be fun to watch the real song fit in the Rajsamand context, where the BJP is talking about bringing the broad-gauge up to Beawar.

Diya Kumari has her task cut out. She tells Swarajya, "The first task is broad-gauge rail connectivity. Among the core areas of work are development of tourism infrastructure in Rajsamanad constituency, better road connectivity, especially the stretch running to Gomti, which is a risky one. The work on Krishna Tourism Circuit, which was sanctioned by the Vasundhara Raje government, is going slow currently. I'll ensure the completion of pending works. It should also connect places of worship related with Meera."

People's expectation from Diya Kumari on boosting Rajsamand's tourism prospects are in tandem with her own ideas on this aspect. She seems aware of what she is expected to deliver. This could be a boon and good news for the region.

Vision Before Victory

She is clearly fighting this election on a vision and not just keeping "vision" as a thing to ponder on after victory. She has ideas. These ideas, when focused on with help from Delhi, could go on to bringing the much needed change in creating employment opportunities, and attracting private sector investment (domestic and international) to the constituency.

Currently, she has three prominent windows within Rajasthan, from where she has interacted with people in political capacities and around work done under the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation. These prominent windows are Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur and Rajsamand. They cover tourism and related activities such as handicraft, industries and agriculture. This scenario certainly would go into Rajsamand's favour if "Abki baari Diya Kumari" happens.

Here is what I noticed, in addition to what the village women have noticed in her campaign. She is breaking ice where much has to melt still, until the last village panchayat, the last minute of the road show, the last group of people that wants to meet her, the last chunk of supporters from a particular samaj to hear or hear from.

She follows her head to the last input from workers stretched between dawn and dusk; that "namaskar" she has to say, well into the night on the national highway when her vehicle stops to pick the fresh and warm besan barfi. She keeps hunger and thirst in suspended animation till she has covered that last mile in the day's schedule.

Also, to the last dialogue, the last bunch of words to know or decide or to convince, the last step up and down to the last temple in the campaign trail, that last step down from the open jeep from her Beawar road show, that last hour on a dark, dark road towards Nathdwara.

There is no visible fuss, no visible reluctance. Communication is smooth and flowing, where Diya Kumari often senses the fragrance on ground and picks the tone, a different, unexpected tone. For example, in one of the village jan samparks, she spoke, the only time of the day outside her vehicle, of not indulging in negativity unlike her rivals. The Narendra Modi armour stays sturdy before her. And in its inner layer, she is building one her own.

"Vishwas ka link"

The element of trust seems to be the pillar of Princess Diya Kumari's utterly challenging debut as a candidate for Lok Sabha poll here. And however abstract it may sound or seem, the element of trust is speaking for itself - loud. It is the first leap of faith, where Diya Kumari seems to have sprinted way beyond Devkinandan Gurjar.

A shopkeeper in Nathdwara area, who doesn't wished to be named, says, "The level of trust which she brings, is an added advantage in her journey marked with added challenges. She commands trust because of two factors - Modi and her background. Her opponent scores pretty low on that factor."

To most, the Modi factor for trusting the BJP candidate is stronger. The factor did not work in Vidhan Sabha, some believe, in the sordid season of "Vasundhara teri khair nahin", which emanated, as many believe, due to Rajput anger (and factors placed in Barmer, Udaipur and Chittorgarh). Lok Sabha is a different field and the support for Modi is consolidating behind Diya Kumari.

For most people Swarajya met in the constituency, Diya Kumari does not stand as an "outsider", but as a woman daring to make a foray into a tough constituency.

People of Rajsamand seem to know Diya Kumari as the former MLA of Sawai Madhopur who spent time at the constituency and brought changes for people's welfare. One of them is Namit, a shopkeeper in Nathdwara, who says, "We have heard that she stays in the constituency for 12 days. If it works well for a Vidhan Sabha constituency, something similar should definitely work for Rajsamand constituency."

Kiran Maheshwari explains how she works for the party on ground. She says, "When I work for them on ground, they feel assured of the leadership on the Lok Sabha level. Idhar udhar kaheen nahin dekhte bas (they don't look elsewhere)."

According to Maheshwari, ground work done towards improving irrigation facilities, especially nehers to make water reach the fields and farmers, has strengthened the roots of BJP in the area.

At Amloi village, Nitu Kumari, a first time voter stands on the road to get a glimpse of Diya Kumari. Nitu says that Modi is the right candidate because he has worked for five years. "I will vote for him".

Most shopkeepers Swarajya spoke to in Nathdwara temple area said that one factor which works for the BJP in Rajsamand is that the top and the bottom rungs of administration are active, dedicated and sincere. A shopkeeper in Nathdwara temple area tells us, "Paarshad aur MLA kaam karta hai aur pradhan mantri Modi ji jaisa hai. This is BJP's advantage."

Dharmasthal, dharm, and Delhi

She is spearing her political stint here on as a woman leader with ideas and vision for Rajsamand, the Dharmsthal constituency. While Nathdwara appears at the top of the constituency's priority, Kumari would focus on Nathdwara as well as Chaarbhuja, the dharmsthal dedicated to Vishnu, in Kumbalgarh, and the uplifting of sthals dedicated to Meera. In Nathdwara temple area, people are convinced about her "sincerity and seriousness".

Most people in the area Swarajya spoke to say that they believe her when she says that she will stay in the constituency and make a push for better facilities related to the Nathdwara temple life. Their demand is for bigger steps towards encouraging focus on tourism and not small changes pertaining to the temple and surrounding areas. BJP seems to be the favourite here.

A shopkeeper says, "Modi versus Rahul Gandhi fight hai. Modi ji desh ki dhadkan hain. Aisa kaunsa leader hai aaj jo aisee kranti ki leher lekar aayaa ho? Par Diya Kumari ji ka zor bhi hai. Niklegi seat (Modi is the heartbeat of the nation, which other PM has brought a wave of revolution in the country? Diya Kumari has influenced the voter. They will win the seat). "

Many shopkeepers mention CP Joshi's influence in the temple area. According to them, CP Joshi has not joined hands and asked for votes directly and in the traditional way but is working to support the Congress candidate.

Nathdwara area people put across a rough list of actions for the MP in waiting. "First and foremost - rail connectivity. Second, a boost to tourism. The government's focus is on places like Jaipur and Jodhpur and Udaipur etc.  Nathdwara should be in focus," says a shopkeeper.

While Rajput and Vaishnav sentiments give Rajsamand its soul, a rich amalgamation of castes consisting of Rajputs, SCs, STs, Rawats, Brahmins, Gurjars, Kumavats, Prajapats, Mahajans, Jats, Telis, Sutar Jangids, Khatis, Sunhaars, Sainis, Patels, Chaudharys, Devasis, Malis, Nais, Sains and Muslims, enrich Rajsamand's social milieu. Diya Kumari firmly stays with "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas" in her campaigns and interactions.

Out of the eight constituencies, Kumbalgarh is understood to have the largest number of Rajputs followed by Nathdwara; Bhim and Beawar are Rawat-heavy; Gurjars in Bhim, Jaitaran, Merta and Kumbalgarh, Kumavats in Rajsamand and Jaitaran, Jats in Jaitaran, Muslims in Merta, among others. Out of the eight Vidhan Sabha seats, four went to BJP and three to Congress.

According to a report, Nathdwara has registered the highest turnout of 66.77 per cent, and Beawar, where her road show was held, 64.92 per cent. Rajsamand, the hub of MLA Kiran Maheshwari saw 67.66 per cent. Congress is relying on its Vidhan Sabha stance. Degna and Merta urban areas are understood to have registered more enthusiasm in voter turn out.

If the dharmsthal sentiment turns into whetted action beginning May 24, Shrinathji, the Isht in Nathdwara, could witness Krishna's glorious and complete celebration between Rajsamand and Mathura in west Uttar Pradesh, from the region where he travelled with his followers. There is a solid chance that Mathura and Rajsamand could see women as MPs who would be known for their work.

There are chapters of history Diya Kumari cannot change. In Rajsamand, she could rewrite one, with some help from Rajputs in the region.

Her new role in politics would soak a lot from her work and demeanour. Rajsamand is not only her field and the opportunity to unravel it, but also that delicate layer of the traditional pallu covering her head, as she looks towards Delhi in hope and pride.

This report is part of Swarajya's 50 Ground Stories Project - an attempt to throw light on issues and constituencies the old media largely refuses to engage. You can support this initiative by sponsoring as little as Rs 2,999. Click here for more details.

(All pictures are by Sumati Mehrishi)