Bhopal: United colours of saffron in Scindia family

NEW DELHI: At the oath-taking ceremony of Ashok Gehlot as Rajasthan chief minister in 2018, his predecessor Vasundhara Raje was clicked hugging her nephew and then Congress functionary Jyotiraditya Scindia. The picture had gone viral on social media platforms.
Raje shared the same picture on Twitter to welcome her nephew to BJP, the party which had her mother Vijaya Raje Scindia, the then head of the Scindia family, as one of the founding members.With Jyotiraditya Scindia joining BJP, this is first time since 1977 when the entire Scindia clan is together in one party. While daughters Vasundhara and Yashodhara Raje had followed in the footsteps of mother Vijaya Raje Scindia, son Madhavrao had joined Congress.
Although Madhavrao had first become Lok Sabha MP from Guna as a Jansangh candidate in 1971, he contested the 1977 elections as an independent and never returned to the saffron-fold, not even even when he rebelled against Congress in 1996 after being denied ticket in the wake of Jain Hawala case. Jubilation in the Scindia family was visible after Jyotiraditya’s entry into BJP.
“If Rajmata Sahab was here today, she would be elated to see you put the nation first. I admire your strength of character and courage. It’s good to be on the same team. Welcome to BJP,” said Vasundhara Raje.
Yashodhara, a BJP MLA in Madhya Pradesh, said differences within the family are over as she tweeted: “Descendant of Rajmata has taken a decision on the national interest. We shall work together for the nation-building ... all differences are over now. We welcome Jyotiraditya to the party (sic).”
Jyotiraditya joining also brought to fore contributions of Vijaya Raje Scindia, who played a pivotal role in the political journey of Jansangh and later BJP. BJP president JP Nadda recalled how she had contributed to the party since it’s “shaishav” (infancy) days. The Scindia matriarch had retained her faith in the saffron organisation even after pressure was on her to join Congress during the Emergency and preferred going to jail.
Former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, said, “It's a joyous day for BJP and me personally. Today, I remember Rajmata Scindia ji. Jyotiraditya Scindia has become a member of BJP family. Yashodhara ji is here with us. Entire family is with BJP. They have a tradition where politics is a medium to serve the people.”