Chandigarh, Aug. 29 –The influential Rao family has formally introduced its third generation with the birth of Rao Jayveer Singh, son of Health Minister Aarti Singh Rao, through surrogacy. The move ends years of speculation over succession in one of the state’s most powerful political dynasties.
The legacy of the Rao family began with former Chief Minister Rao Birender Singh, a towering figure in Haryana’s formative years. His son, Rao Inderjit Singh, carried the baton as a five-time MP and cabinet minister at both state and central levels, emerging as the strongest voice for the Ahirwal region.
With no sons, Rao Inderjit Singh announced in 2022 that his elder daughter, Aarti Singh Rao, would be his political heir. Aarti, now a Cabinet minister in the Haryana government, has been active in politics, while her sister Bharti Singh Rao has chosen a business career and remained away from public life. Aarti is divorced and raising her child independently.
The arrival of Rao Jayveer Singh now cements the family’s political continuity. “The heir question has been answered,” a senior party insider remarked, noting that the family’s presence in Ahirwal politics remains unchallenged.
The Ahirwal region – covering Rewari, Mahendragarh and Narnaul, with influence stretching to Gurugram, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri and Jhajjar – has historically shaped power equations in Haryana. Over a dozen constituencies fall under its sway. From Rao Birender Singh’s popularity to Rao Inderjit Singh’s long innings, the family has held a firm grip on this belt. Analysts often describe Ahirwal as the “semi-final” of power in Haryana politics.
With Inderjit Singh at the peak of his political career and Aarti Singh Rao holding ministerial charge, the emergence of Jayveer Singh as the family’s third-generation face is viewed as a symbolic yet strategic signal for the future.
Rao family’s political journey
- 1967: Rao Birender Singh becomes Haryana’s second chief minister
- 1970s–80s: Influential Congress leader with strong state presence
- 1991–96: Rao Inderjit Singh serves as MLA and state cabinet minister
- 1998: First elected to Parliament from Mahendragarh
- 2004–14: Re-elected MP, serves as minister in UPA government
- 2014: Joins BJP, wins Gurugram, becomes Union Minister
- 2019: Wins fifth consecutive Lok Sabha term
- 2022: Aarti Singh Rao declared political successor
- 2024: Joins Haryana Cabinet as Health Minister
- 2025: Birth of Rao Jayveer Singh via surrogacy, marking the third generation
With the entry of Jayveer, observers say, the Rao family has both answered its succession question and signaled its intent to remain a defining force in Haryana’s politics for years to come.
