BJP chief Amit Shah meets Wadiyar royal family

BJP in Karnataka has made efforts to give a royal touch for its prospects in the May 12 assembly polls in the state, with its national President Amit Shah meeting the Wadiyar royal familyof Mysuru today.

Shah, who is touring old Mysuru region, met the erstwhile royal family at their private palace here, triggering speculations about their supporting or joining the BJP.

According to sources, during the closed door meeting with the scion of royal family or the present titularMaharaja- Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar and RajamataPramoda Devi Wadiyar, Shah reportedly discussed various issues, including politics.

He is also said to have expressed his admiration for the progressive and pro-people work by the royal familyand the erstwhile Maharajas during their rule in the past.

State BJP Chief B S Yedyurappa, Union Minister Ananth Kumar and Member of Parliament from Mysuru Pratap Simha were present along with Shah during the meeting.

"Had a wonderful meeting with Maharaja Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, Rajamatha Pramoda Devi Wadiyarand Maharani Trishika Kumari Devi of the Royal Family of Mysuru," Shah said in a tweet after the meeting with pictures.

"It was nice to see Yuvraj Adyaveer Narasimha Wadiyar too!" he said in another tweet, sharing a picture of him alongwith Yaduveer and the infant "prince".

Amidst speculations in the media, Yaduveer, the27th "King" of the Wadiyar dynasty, had recently ruled outhis political entry.

"I have told several times that I'm not interested in politics. There is no chance at all about me joining any party. I'm not interested in politics. Through social work we will continue our relationship with the public," he said.

Though it is not clear what transpired at the meeting, BJP's move is however, seen as an attempt by the party to muster more support in the region, where the party had not wona single seat in the previous election.

The royal family still commands considerable respectand affection in the old Mysuru region.

Also, politics is not something new to the Mysururoyal family. The previous scion, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, represented Mysuru Parliamentary constituencyfour times and had lost once.

Srikantadatta mostly remained with the Congress, but also had a short stint with the BJP.

Srikantadatta's father Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar,the last Maharaja of Mysuru, held the position of Rajpramukh/Governor after independence.