The majestic Udaipur Palace, where the family of Maharana Pratap’s descendants lives, became the scene of a heated conflict on Monday evening. A family disagreement over who controls the palace and other ancestral properties turned into a public fight. This led to three people getting hurt and the district authorities needing to bring in extra security to manage the situation.

Vishvraj Singh, recently crowned as the 77th Maharana of Mewar and a BJP MLA, was not allowed to enter the Udaipur Palace. The palace trust, managed by his uncle Shreeji Arvind Singh Mewar and cousin Dr. Lakshya Raj Singh, had announced earlier that day that no one without permission could enter the properties, which include temples and forts.

The conflict began when Vishvraj Singh tried to visit the Dhuni Mata temple in the palace complex to pray after his coronation. When he and his supporters were stopped at the gates and not allowed in, the situation turned chaotic. His supporters tried to force their way in, breaking barricades. Stones were thrown, and the police had a hard time controlling the crowd.

A family dispute through generations

The main issue comes from a long-standing family disagreement that started many years ago. In 1955, the Shri Eklingji Trust was created to manage the Mewar family's palaces and temples. Bhagwat Singh, the 75th Maharana, gave control of the trust to his younger son, Arvind Singh, leaving out his elder son, Mahendra Singh. This caused tension in the family, with court cases and claims of unfair treatment during Bhagwat Singh’s life.

After Mahendra Singh passed away earlier this year, his son, Vishvraj Singh, was officially crowned as the Maharana in a traditional ceremony at Chittorgarh Fort. However, the palace trust issued a statement saying that Vishvraj Singh does not have any legal rights or decision-making power in the trust that manages the family’s properties.

While the trust accused Vishvraj Singh of attempting "criminal trespass" with malicious intent, the Maharana argued that property disputes should not interfere with royal traditions. “I only wanted darshan of our deity,” he stated.

The state government stepped in and appointed a person, called a receiver, to take charge of the path leading to the Dhuni Mata temple. Vishvraj Singh is hopeful that this decision will let him visit the temple and bring some peace to this ongoing family dispute, which has caught the nation’s attention.