Rajkot: Maharaja of erstwhile native state of Wankaner and former union environment minister Digvijaysinh ji Jhala passed away today. He was 88.

Paying tribute to late Maharaja of former princely state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a tweetsaid: Anguished by the demise of former Union Minister, Shri Digvijaysinh Zala Ji. He played an active role in Gujarat and national politics. He will be remembered for his community service and passion towards the environment. Condolences to his family. Om Shanti.

Anguished by the demise of former Union Minister, Shri Digvijaysinh Zala Ji. He played an active role in Gujarat and national politics. He will be remembered for his community service and passion towards the environment. Condolences to his family. Om Shanti.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 4, 2021

Late Digvijay Sinh was MLA in Gujarat assembly during 1962-67 and 1967-72 for two terms. He had represented Surendranagar as member of Lok Sabha during 1980-84 and 1984-89.

Late Digvijansinh was born at Ranjit Vilas Palace at Wankaner on 20 August 1932 and was the eldest son of Captain H.H. Maharana Raj Shri Pratapsinhji Sahib of Wankaner State who passed away in 2006. He was educated at Rajkumar College, Rajkot and later did his graduation from Cambridge University and doctorate from St Stephen’s College from Delhi University. He firstly married in 1955 to Maharajkumari Baiji Lal Pratap Kumari Sahiba, eldest daughter of Sir Tej Singhji, Maharaja of Alwar State and secondly in 1982 to Vibha Singh one time fashion model. He is surived by an only son by his second wife named Kesrisinhji born in 1983. He became Heir Apparent at birth, with the title of Yuvraj Sahib of Wankaner officially from 1932 to 1948 when the State merged into India. Later all royal titles and privy purse were abolished by India in 1971. He succeeded on the death of his father as Head of the Royal House of Wankaner in 2007 as the titular Maharana of Wankaner.

Digvijaysinhji was convener Indian Heritage Hotels Association, Gujarat, Chairman of Gujarat Hotels Association, President of the Wankaner Co-op Agricultural Bank Ltd for 1962-1964. He was a Director of Shree Amarsinhji Mills Ltd since 1960, a cotton textile mill founded in 1951 by his grandfather Sir Amarsinhji Banesinhji, which was later taken over by Kores India in 1980. He had served as a director of India Tourism Development Corporation also for the years 1968-1982. He was also a founder member of the Indigenous Horse Society of India founded in 1999. He was also a member of the Gujarat State Water Pollution Control Board since 1976, National Committee for Environmental Planning since 1981 and president of the Akhil Bharatiya Kshatriya Mahasabha since 1989.