Quick Facts
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Digvijaya Singh |
| Date of Birth | 28 February 1947 wikipedia |
| Profession | Politician, former CM of Madhya Pradesh wikipedia |
| Spouse | Amrita Rai (m. 2015); previously Asha Singh (1969-2013) wikipedia |
| Family | Son: Jaivardhan Singh; Daughters: Mrinalini, Mandakini, Karnieka (deceased 2016), Mradima Kumari; Brother: Laxman Singh |
| Net Worth | Approx. Rs 37-38 crore (as of 2018-19); recent assets over Rs 4 crore movable jagran |
Early Life & Education
Digvijaya Singh entered the world on 28 February 1947 in Indore, within the princely state of Holkar, British India, now Madhya Pradesh. Born into royalty, his father Raja Balbhadra Singh ruled Raghogarh—now in Guna district—and later won the local assembly seat as an independent in 1951, while his mother Rani Aparna Kumari hailed from Gidhaur royalty. The family belonged to the Khichi Chauhan Rajput clan, embedding young Digvijaya in a legacy of leadership and privilege.imeuswe+1
He attended the elite Daly College in Indore, honing skills in sports like cricket, hockey, and squash, even representing Central Zone cricket and national junior squash. Later, at Shri Govindram Seksaria Institute of Technology and Science, Indore, he earned a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, blending aristocratic roots with modern education. These formative years sparked his political fire, as he joined local governance early, becoming Raghogarh Municipal Corporation president at age 22.wikipedia
Amrita Rai, born around 1972 in Uttar Pradesh, carved her path independently. Details on her early family remain sparse, but she pursued journalism, starting at BAG Films before anchoring at Star News and NDTV. Her Uttar Pradesh roots fueled a career in broadcast media, specializing in news writing and public relations.tfipost+1
Complete Family Details
Digvijaya's first marriage in 1969 was to Asha Singh, who passed away from cancer in 2013 after 44 years together. They raised five children: son Jaivardhan Singh, a Congress MLA from Raghogarh and former minister; daughters Mrinalini Kumari, Mandakini Kumari (married into Gujarat's Santrampur royal family), Karnieka Kumari (died 2016), and Mradima Kumari. Brother Laxman Singh served as Rajgarh MP. The family navigated public life amid political storms.
Amrita Rai entered this fold post her divorce from Anand Pradhan, an IIMC journalism professor. Their union in 2015 brought no additional children but deepened family ties, highlighted by their joint 3,300 km Narmada Parikrama pilgrimage from September 2017 to April 2018. Amrita publicly requested Digvijaya transfer properties to his children, emphasizing love over assets. Today, they form a power couple, blending politics and media.
Parents: Father - Late Balbhadra Singh; Mother - Late Aparna Kumarioneindia
Siblings: Laxman Singh (politician)wikipedia
Extended Ties: Royal connections via daughters' marriages and Raghogarh heritagejansatta
Career Trajectory
Digvijaya Singh's Rise
Digvijaya joined Congress in 1971 after rejecting a Bharatiya Jana Sangh offer. Elected Raghogarh MLA in 1977, he served as minister under Arjun Singh (1980-84), handling agriculture and irrigation. He won Rajgarh Lok Sabha seats in 1984, 1989, and 1991, leading Madhya Pradesh Congress (1985-88, 1992).wikipedia
Sworn in as Madhya Pradesh CM in 1993 after resigning MP post, he served two full terms till 2003—the first Congress leader to do so. Key initiatives included Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS), Gyandoot IT project for rural access, and Panchayati Raj empowerment. Literacy surged from 45% to 64% (1991-2001), especially among girls. Post-2003 defeat, he became AICC General Secretary (2004-18), Rajya Sabha MP (2014), and eyed Lok Sabha bids in 2019 (Bhopal loss) and 2024 (Rajgarh loss).wikipedia
Amrita Rai's Media Journey
Amrita began at BAG Films, rose as Star News lead anchor, briefly at CNEB under Rahul Dev, then NDTV. By 2016, she anchored Rajya Sabha TV's "Sarokaar," earning praise for articulate shows. Post-marriage, she balanced career and support for Digvijaya's spiritual-political ventures.wef+1
Love Story Timeline
Their romance ignited post-Asha's 2013 death. Sources note closeness grew six months later. April 2014 viral photos of intimate moments exploded online, prompting Digvijaya's Twitter admission: he confirmed the relationship, noting Amrita's mutual divorce filing, condemning privacy invasion. Amrita echoed, filing FIRs against trolls under IT Act and IPC.indiatoday+1
Amid backlash over 24-year age gap (Digvijaya 68, Amrita ~43), they wed secretly in Tamil Nadu temple in late August 2015 per Hindu rites, registering later. Amrita announced on Facebook: "I have married Digvijaya Singh for love," requesting property transfers to his kids. The union silenced critics, evolving into partnership—culminating in Narmada Parikrama, a 192-day foot pilgrimage worshipping the river as "Ma Rewa."
2013: Asha passes; bond formsindiatoday
Apr 2014: Photos leak; public acknowledgmentwikipedia
Aug 2015: Temple marriage
2017-18: Joint Parikramawikipedia
Present: United in politics and faith
News & Controversies
Digvijaya's career drew fire. As CM, 1998 police firing killed 19-24 farmers; PUCL blamed him for leader arrests. He coined "Saffron Terror" post-2008 Mumbai attacks, linking RSS, facing party and opposition backlash. 2011 Batla House demand for probe called "fake" by Chidambaram. Osama bin Laden burial remark (respect religious rites) twisted as support.wikipedia
Sexist "sau tunch maal" for MP Meenakshi Natarajan (2013, clarified as "pure gold"); Arvind Kejriwal-Rakhi Sawant tweet prompted FIR; 2016 MP recruitment scam charges (bailed); 2017 Telangana police fake ISIS site allegation FIR; 2020 resort protest arrest amid MP crisis; 2022 Ujjain clash 1-year sentence (bailed); 2025 PDS defamation notice. RSS critiques persisted, alleging bomb training.wikipedia
Amrita faced trolls post-photos but countered legally. Their story trended amid age-gap debates, yet they thrived neutrally. Recent 2025 Kanwar Yatra post stirred "two laws" row.
Awards & Achievements
1998: CAPAM Gold Award (Kuala Lumpur) for Education Guarantee Scheme
2000: Stockholm Challenge IT Award for Gyandoot projecthindustantimes
Global Development Network Award: Rogi Kalyan Samiti for healthcare reformswikipedia
Two-term CM milestone; literacy boom; Narmada Parikrama completionwikipedia
Digvijaya's pro-Dalit/tribal policies like land redistribution and 30% supplier diversity reshaped Madhya Pradesh.
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FAQ
Who is Digvijaya Singh's wife?
Amrita Rai, TV anchor, married 2015 after 2014 relationship went public. Previously Asha Singh (1969-2013).wikipedia
How did Digvijaya Singh and Amrita Rai's love story start?
Post-2013 widowhood, closeness grew; 2014 photos leaked, leading to admissions and temple wedding.
What is Digvijaya Singh's net worth?
Around Rs 37-38 crore (2018-19); 2024 filings show Rs 4+ crore movable assets.jagran
What are Digvijaya Singh's major controversies?
Farmer shootings, Saffron Terror remarks, Batla House probe demand, sexist comment, scams, 2025 defamation.wikipedia
Does Digvijaya Singh have children with Amrita Rai?
No; five from first marriage: son Jaivardhan, four daughters.
What is Amrita Rai's profession?
Journalist/anchor; BAG Films, Star News, NDTV, Rajya Sabha TV "Sarokaar."tfipost
Why did Digvijaya Singh do Narmada Parikrama?
Spiritual pilgrimage with Amrita, 3,300 km on foot (2017-18), honoring river as mother.wikipedia
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