Jaipur: Leaders with passions beyond politics

JAIPUR: The affidavit of the candidates also reveals the softer side and their passions other than politics.

Dushyant Singh, son of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, for instance, seems to have a passion for collection of vintage cars. He had five vintage Rolls Royce cars in his prized possession shown as part of his assets and carry a value of Rs 3 lakhs each.

The registration numbers of these cars are in same series in an increasing order according to its order of acquisition. The first one, a 1923 make carries the number of RJ-11-C 1225. The second one, a 1920 make have the registration number of RJ-11-C-1226 and so on. He owns three more Rolls Royce of 1921, 1928 and 1934 make carrying the same series of registration numbers in increasing order.

Rolls Royce, the iconic British car is now history after the company was acquired by German auto major Volkswagen AG in 1998 and renamed it Bentley Motors Limited.

It is not that he loves only vintage cars. He owns two Mercedes of 2014 and 2017 make.

Congress candidate from Kota, Ram Narain Meena, has a collection of books valued at Rs 25,500. He is the only caddidate who has declared his books as part of his assets.

Riju Jhunjhunwala, businessman and Congress candidate form Ajmer is a connoisseur of art as he owns paintings and artefacts worth about Rs 16 lakhs as per the affidavit declared as part of his assets.

Riju, who is making his debut in politics and is on a gruelling campaign trial, said his love for arts comes from his mother and wife.

He said, “My mother is a professional artist while my wife is a professional singer.” He said it is more of their collection than mine, he said.

The former IPS officer and Congress candidate from Sawai Madhopur Namo Narian Meena owns a 22 bore rifle and 12 bore rifle which is estimated to cost Rs 65,000.