Vasundhara Raje


Vasundhara Raje Scindia is an Indian politician who is currently serving as the National Vice President of Bharatiya Janata Party. She also held the post of 13th Chief Minister of Rajasthan from 2013 to 11 December 2018 - previously she served for the same post from 2003 to 2008 and was the first woman to hold the post. She is also the head of Dholpur royal family, and is the acting queen of Dholpur.

Early life

Vasundhara Raje was born on 8 March 1953 in Bombay. She is daughter of Vijayaraje Scindia - Shinde and Jivajirao Scindia - Shinde, Maharaja of Gwalior, members of the prominent Scindia royal Maratha family. She completed her school education from Presentation Convent, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, and later graduated with Economics and Political Science degrees from Sophia College, affiliated to Mumbai University, Mumbai.

Personal life

Vasundhara Raje married Maharaj Rana Hemant Singh, of the royal Dholpur family, on 17 November 1972, but the couple separated an year later. Her son Dushyant Singh was elected to the Lok Sabha from her former constituency, Jhalawar.
Her siblings are Yashodhara Raje Scindia, former Industries Minister of Madhya Pradesh, the late Madhavrao Scindia, the late Padmavati Raje 'Akkasaheb' Burman, who wed Kirit Deb Burman, last ruling Maharaja of Tripura, and Usha Raje Rana who married into the Rana family of Nepal.

Political career

In 1984, Raje entered the Indian political system. Initially, she was made a Member of the National Executive of the newly formed Bharatiya Janata party. She was also elected as a member of the 8th Rajasthan Assembly from Dholpur. The same year, she was appointed as the Vice President of the Yuva Morcha, Rajasthan BJP.

Membership of Legislative Assembly

in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

Positions held

In 2018, Rajasthan MLA Ghanshyam Tiwari accused Vasundhara Raje's government of corruption and accused the BJP's central leadership of shielding her. He also accused Raje of appointing "her cronies" in important posts. Later that year Tiwari resigned in protest.
On 7 December 2018, the Supreme Court of India issued notice to Raje and her son Dushyant Singh in an alleged fraud land sale case.

Works

In 2007, she received the "Women Together Award" by the UNO for services rendered towards self-empowerment of women.

Book

Book on the life of Vasundhara Raje named Vasundhara Raje aur Vikasit Rajasthan written by Historian Vijay Nahar and published by Prabhat Prakashan, firstly gifted to Governor of Rajasthan.