Mr. Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, scion of Mysore royal family, has decided to contest again for the Lok Sabha seat from Mysore. He has set aside rumours that his wife, Mrs. Pramoda Devi Wodeyar, would be replacing him in the Parliamentary elections.

Making his stand clear, Mr. Wodeyar has described rumours that he would not be contesting the elections on health reasons as incorrect. He said his health was better than last time. He was in a ‘trim’ shape. Jealous of his contest again, some people were spreading false rumours, the prince who turned 51 last month, has said.

His wife, Mrs. Pramoda Devi, has also made it clear that she would not be contesting the elections, as made out in some section of the Press. She said she had no interest in politics. She has described the reports about her entering into politics on Congress Party ticket as baseless.

Mr. Wodeyar was elected to the lower house of Parliament last time on the Congress Party ticket. The party is reported to have already recommended his name to the All India Congress Committee for ticket to contest for the Lok Sabha in its initial report.

The election in Mysore is scheduled on April 26. Elections in Karnataka will take place in two phases, on April 20 and 26.