Former royal family in Tonk extends support to Sachin Pilot ahead of Rajasthan Assembly polls, says Congress leader understands town's issues

Jaipur: The erstwhile royal family of Tonk has extended support to Congress candidate Sachin Pilot who is contesting the upcoming Assembly election from Tonk constituency in Rajasthan. [caption id=“attachment_4177871” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Congress leader Sachin Pilot. AFP[/caption] The titular Nawab of Tonk, Aftab Ali Khan, urged the members of his clan to vote for Pilot. The family has a significant influence in the town but it is not politically involved. “The future belongs to youths and…we are with Pilot. The public is wiser than any political leader and they know the ethos and problems of Tonk. Pilot has represented Ajmer Lok Sabha constituency and he too understands Tonk well,” Khan told PTI. He said there was no industry in the town, and education was also a problem. “I believe Pilot is the most suitable candidate for resolving these issues,” Khan, who is the patron of Anjuman (society) Khandan-e-Amiria Tonk, said. Anjuman is the official body of the clan which has 8,500 registered members. The BJP has fielded transport minister Yoonus Khan, who is the party's only Muslim face in the elections , against Pilot on the Tonk seat. Dominated by Muslims, Tonk is one of the keenly watched constituencies, where the Congress’s state president and Yoonus Khan are pitted against each other in the election.