Lok Sabha Election 2024: Who Is Kriti Singh Debbarma, Chief's Sister, BJP's Nominee For The East Tripura Seat?

Kriti Singh Debbarma, the princess of the erstwhile Manikya dynasty and elder sister of TIPRA Motha party founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, has been nominated as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Tripura's East constituency.

BJP's Nominee For The East Tripura Seat - Kriti Singh Debbarma

Her candidacy was announced in the BJP's second list of candidates issued on Wednesday by BJP national general secretary Arun Singh. Of the two Lok Sabha seats in the state, the East constituency is reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST).

This announcement comes shortly after the TIPRA Motha party joined the BJP-IPFT government in the state. Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha congratulated Kriti Singh for her nomination as the BJP candidate, expressing confidence that the BJP-led NDA government would be reformed under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The TIPRA Motha party also extended its congratulations to Kriti Singh for her selection to contest from the East constituency.

"Another milestone for the successful implementation of the historic TIPRASA accord. Heartiest Congratulations to Maharani Kriti Singh Debbarma on being declared as the joint candidate of TIPRA Motha Party and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the TRIPURA EAST (ST) Parliamentary Constituency," TIPRA Motha party wrote on X, former;ly known as Twitter.

Who is Kriti Singh Debbarma?

Kriti, the youngest daughter of the late Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya, received her education at the Loreto Convent in Shillong. Later, she pursued diploma courses in the Environmental Education and Management Appreciation Programme for Voluntary Agencies, as well as Senior Management & Rural Development Course in Gujarat. For two years starting from 1992, she served as an Animal Welfare Officer in Shillong.

Throughout her career, Kriti has been actively involved with various NGOs dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues and promoting sustainable development in the northeastern region of India. Additionally, she has worked as an agriculturalist in Madhya Pradesh, focusing on areas such as horticulture, organic farming, and the breeding and preservation of indigenous cattle breeds.

Kriti's marital union is with Yogeshwar Raj Singh, a member of the royal family of the erstwhile Kawardha Raj in Chhattisgarh. Presently, she oversees the management of the Heritage Hotel-Palace in Kawardha.

In recent developments, the BJP has nominated former Tripura chief minister and Rajya Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb as its candidate for the West constituency, the other Lok Sabha seat from the state.

Another royal of the BJP Mysuru 'king' follows the family's legacy

Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, another royal figure featured on the BJP's second list, is set to follow in the footsteps of his great-uncle, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, the former Mysuru royal scion. Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar served as the representative for the Mysore Parliamentary constituency four times and faced one electoral defeat.

In 2015, Yaduveer ascended to the position of titular head of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family, becoming the 27th 'king' of the Wadiyar dynasty. He was adopted by Pramoda Devi Wadiyar following the passing of her husband, Srikantadatta Wadiyar. Yaduveer pursued his BA in Economics and English at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in the US. He actively engages in various cultural and charitable events, contributing to the social sphere.

The Wadiyar dynasty's reign over the kingdom of Mysuru spanned from 1399 to 1947, with Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar serving as its final king until India gained independence in 1947. He continued as the ruler of Mysuru until India transitioned into a Republic in 1950. Yaduveer Wadiyar is the grandson of Princess Gayatri Devi, Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar's eldest daughter.