Ever since independence, the number of royal families in India has shrunk to a fraction of their former size, with ex-royalty taking up roles in business, tourism and in the case of Jyotiraditya Scindia, front page politics too.

Recently, Scindia has made headlines for his resignation from the Congress party - a relationship that lasted for over 19 years until finally breaking this March, in favour of allying with the BJP. Despite the fascinating game of thrones at work here, Scindia happens to be quite the figure all by himself. Here are a few interesting facts behind the manâs life and times.

A Tragic Breakthrough Into Politics

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Grandson of the last Maharaja of Gwalior, Jivajirao Scindia, Jyotiraditya was certainly destined for some kind of political impact, but few could predict how sudden and tragic his first year as a career politician would be. At the relatively young age of 30, his father succumbed to a tragic airplane accident and left open the doors to the familyâs traditionally held constituency in Guna. Later, that same year, he would join the Congress party and soon beat out his BJP counterpart in an election by nearly half a million votes.

One Of The Richest Ministers In The UPA

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Unsurprisingly, given the vast influence and riches of the Scindia dynasty, Jyotiraditya was one of the most wealthy politicians to feature in the UPA roster for quite a long time. His long list of assets is mostly beefed up by a staggering $2 billion worth of ancestral property inheritance, with several more millions in jewelry and other forms.

One Of The Most Educated MPs

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Having an entire dynasty on your shoulders requires a certain amount of skill and training to manage, and boy did Scindia not hold back. Finishing off his schooling years at the famous Doon School, Dehradun, he went on to snag a B.A. in Economics from Harvard, eventually completing an M.B.A. from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University.

Career In Cricket Administration

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Apart from politics and managing his family businesses, Scindia also has an eye for cricket, a sport that he takes quite seriously as the chairman of the regional Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA). Back in 2013, when MPCA staffer and ex-BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale quit his post as part of an IPL match-fixing scandal, Scindia vehemently supported swift action against fixing in cricket at the time.

Royal Lineage

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The backbone of any major dynasty is marriage - in order to consolidate and retain power, Indiaâs many kingdoms brought together their families through matrimony, and Scindiaâs parents were no exception. He carries on the Scindia line through his paternal side, but lesser-known are his ties to the Nepalese Rana dynasty and the legendary Gorkha forces through his maternal family. He himself is married to Priyadarshini Raje Scindia, a descendant of Barodaâs Gaekwad dynasty. Now thatâs one hell of a family tree.

The Perks Of Being A Royal

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Apart from a very sizable inheritance, Scindia also gets the perks of being part of Indiaâs elite colonial class, which means living in the famous 40-acre Jai Vilas Palace of Gwalior, while simultaneously owning a vintage car collection, with the unusual (pictured above) 1960s BMW Isetta making an appearance at occasional showcases. Made in 1874, the palace is covered with handcrafted furniture, hundreds of chandeliers and exotic fittings. If converted for today's currency rates, it cost somewhere in the ballpark of Rs 4,000 crores to construct and furnish.

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