Mumbai, May 12 -- In what may create a churn during the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled to be held next month, Kolhapur royal family scion Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati has distanced himself from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and thrown his hat into the ring as an independent candidate. The descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has also announced the launch of a social outfit 'Swarajya', which may be converted into a political party later.

Sambhajiraje (52), who came to the fore during the protests by Marathas seeking reservation in jobs and education, and has a base in sections of the community, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2016 from the President's quota and his term expired on May 3. An aide of Sambhajiraje said he was not a ...