Vishvendra Singh

Vishvendra Singh (born 23 June 1962) also known as Maharaja Vishvendra Singh is the scion of Sinsinwar Jat rulers of Bharatpur state and a politician in Rajasthan who has served as the Cabinet Minister of Tourism in the department of civil aviation of the Government of Rajasthan from November 2021 to December 2023. He served as the Minister of Tourism and Devasthan in the Government of Rajasthan from December 2018 to July 2020. He also served as the Member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly for three terms representing Nadbai constituency in 1993 and Deeg-Kumher constituency in 2013 and 2018. He was elected to the Lok Sabha representing Bharatpur constituency in 1989, 1999 and 2004.

Early life
Singh, hails from the Sinsinwar Jat clan of Bharatpur, was born into royalty on June 23, 1962, at Moti Mahal in Bharatpur. He is the son of Maharaja Sawai Brijendra Singh, the 13th Maharaja of Bharatpur.

Political career
Singh political career began with the Indian National Congress and became Zila Pramukh in 1988 and then he joined Janata Dal in 1989 and became member of the Lok Sabha for the first time after which he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1991. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Lok Sabha representing Bharatpur for three terms from 1989 to 1991 as a member of Janata Dal, 1999 to 2009 as a member of the Bhartiya Janata Party. During his tenure, he was part of the Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests from 1999 to 2004, and the Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law & Justice in 2004 to 2009.

In 2008, Singh switched to the Indian National Congress due to conflicts with his BJP colleague Digamber Singh. His move to Congress marked his return to the party after two decades. As a member of Congress party, he contested the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly elections and has been elected as MLA for the Nadbai constituency from 1993 to 1998 and Deeg-Kumher constituency for two terms, 2013–2018 and 2018–2023.

Singh ministerial roles in the Rajasthan government have been significant. He served as the Minister of Tourism and Devasthan from December 2018 to July 2020, under chief minister Ashok Gehlot and deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot. Later, he held the portfolio of Tourism and Civil Aviation from November 2021 to December 2023.

His political journey has been influenced by his royal heritage as the son of the last ruler of the princely state of Bharatpur, Maharaja Brijendra Singh. Despite the abolition of official symbols of princely India, including titles and privileges, in the 26th amendment to the Constitution of India in 1971, Singh’s royal background has provided him with a unique political leverage.