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Every meeting takes about 40 minutes. Her Tata Safari winds its way to the venue, and within seconds two of her personal security officers open the door and clear the way through the milling crowds.

Men and women elbow each other to touch her feet and refer to her as 'Shrimant Yashodhara Raje' or simply 'Maharaj.'

The Scindias ruled the area for more than 300 years and are still revered as royalty by many. Every banner bears the prefix 'Shrimant' -- a term of regal respect -- and her ADC bows in reverence while in attendance.

At her meetings, she refers to her mother as Rajmata and elder sister Vasundhara Raje, the Bharatiya Janata Party's chief ministerial candidate in neighbouring Rajasthan, as 'Maharani Dholpur'.

Yashodhara Raje does not answer in the affirmative or negative when asked how much of a royal she is. She throws the question right back at us. "In the UK royalty is preserved, it is seen as something unique, but in our country they try to bury it. It is fashionable to deride it. But I don't see politics like a royal duty."

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Also see: In the Land of Ram

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