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Digvijaya Singh Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth28 February 1947

Age78 Years

BirthplaceIndore, Holkar State, British India (now Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India)

ProfessionPolitician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseAmrita Rai

FamilySon - Jaivardhan Singh; Daughters - Mrinalini Kumari, Mandakini Kumari, Mradima Kumari; Brother - Laxman Singh; Father - Raja Balbhadra Singh II; Mother - Rani Aparna Kumari

Digvijaya Singh Biography

Veteran Congress leader from Madhya Pradesh, former two-term chief minister and long-serving parliamentarian, Digvijaya Singh has been a prominent and at‑t

Early life and background

Digvijaya Singh was born on 28 February 1947 in Indore, then part of Holkar State in British India. He comes from the erstwhile royal family of Raghogarh in present-day Guna district, Madhya Pradesh, and is identified with the Khichi Rajput branch of the Chauhan clan. Raised in a political household—his father, Raja Balbhadra Singh II, was active in politics—Singh attended Daly College in Indore and later earned a Bachelor of Engineering in mechanical engineering from the Shri Govindram Seksaria Institute of Technology and Science, Indore.

Career

Singh’s public life began at the local level: he served as president of the Raghogarh Municipal Corporation in 1969 and formally joined the Indian National Congress in 1971. He entered legislative politics as an MLA from Raghogarh in 1977 and won re-election in 1980. Early ministerial responsibilities at the state level included agriculture, fisheries and animal husbandry with independent charge, and later irrigation and command area development as a minister in Arjun Singh’s cabinet.

At the national level, Singh was elected to the Lok Sabha from Rajgarh in 1984 and retained the seat in the 1989 and 1991 elections. He also served as president of the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee in the mid-1980s and again in 1992. In 1993 he resigned his Lok Sabha seat to focus on state politics and became chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, a post he held from 1993 until 2003. During that period he was elected to the Madhya Pradesh assembly from Chachoura in 1994 and from Raghogarh in subsequent state polls.

After his decade as chief minister, Singh moved into organisational roles within the party. He served as General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee from 2004 until 2018 and later became a member of the Rajya Sabha beginning 10 April 2014. He contested the Bhopal Lok Sabha seat in 2019.

Public profile

Singh has been a visible and outspoken figure in Indian politics for decades. He has taken public stands on national issues, sometimes prompting controversy and legal notices. Over the years he has faced a range of allegations and legal challenges tied to his time in office and to statements he has made. These include criminal charges relating to alleged irregularities in recruitment in the state assembly secretariat, FIRs and police complaints arising from public comments and tweets, and court proceedings connected to clashes during political protests. In some instances courts have granted bail or required bonds.

Besides contests and court matters, Singh has also drawn attention for his commentary on national events and personalities. He has at times been criticised for remarks perceived as inappropriate; on other occasions he has clarified or disavowed particular social-media posts.

Personal life

Singh married Asha Singh on 11 December 1969; she died in 2013. He later married news anchor Amrita Rai. The couple undertook a lengthy religious pilgrimage together in 2017–2018, completing a circumambulation of the river Narmada on foot. Singh is a practising Hindu and has described participation in traditional rites and daily prayer as part of his life.

His family includes son Jaivardhan Singh, who followed him into politics and was elected as an MLA from Raghogarh in 2013. He also has daughters Mrinalini Kumari, Mandakini Kumari and Mradima Kumari; another daughter, Karnieka Kumari, died in 2016. Singh’s brother Laxman Singh has also held elected office.

Interests and public image

Away from politics, Singh enjoys wildlife visits and photography and listening to classical Hindi music. He is known by the nickname "Diggi Raja" in some media accounts. Physically, profiles list him at about 173 cm (5'8") with black eyes and salt-and-pepper hair.

Latest updates

In recent years Singh has continued active participation in party organisation and public debate. He completed a Rajya Sabha term beginning in 2014 and remained engaged in national and state-level politics, including contesting parliamentary elections in 2019. Legal and political developments relating to past allegations and court cases have featured periodically in news coverage of his career.
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Recent Work

Rajya Sabha membership

Became a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha on 10 April 2014

2014
Contested Bhopal Lok Sabha seat

Contested the Bhopal Lok Sabha seat in the 2019 general election

2019
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Career Highlights

  1. President of Raghogarh Municipal Corporation (1969)
  2. Joined Indian National Congress (1971)
  3. Elected MLA from Raghogarh (1977, 1980, 1998, 2003)
  4. Elected MP from Rajgarh (1984, 1989, 1991)
  5. President, Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (1984–1988; 1992)
  6. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh (1993–2003)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Digvijaya Singh born?

28 February 1947

What is Digvijaya Singh known for?

Politician

What is Digvijaya Singh’s marital status?

Married

Who is Digvijaya Singh married to?

Amrita Rai