Gujarat: Its's Vasava vs Vasava vs Vasava in Bharuch
When voters go to the polling booths for the Bharuch Lok Sabha constituency on May 7, they will have to doublecheck the party symbol they want to choose. Going by the names of the candidates on the EVM, chances are many may end up choosing a ‘Vasava’ they did not want to!
Except for their political ideologies, the three key Lok Sabha contestants — Mansukh, Chaitar and Dilip — share much in common. They are all tribals with a common surname, Vasava, a clan of the Bhil community who share the same rituals and traditions.
In fact, BJP’s six-time MP Mansukh and AAP candidate Chaitar share a common attribute: They are outspoken about raising people’s issues with the authorities. The former even took on the BJP govt to raise local grievances several times.
While the primary contest is between Mansukh and Chaitar, Dilip — who is the son of Chhotu Vasava, a tribal father figure for decades — has also thrown his hat in the ring, contesting on the Bharatiya Adivasi Party (BAP) ticket.
And then there are Dharmendra Vasava, an independent, and Chetan Vasava, contesting on the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket, both political underdogs.
A long-lost pocket borough of the Congress and native of late party stalwart Ahmed Patel, this tribal-dominated and industrially affluent constituency has been a saffron citadel since 1989. Though Ahmed Patel continued to call the shots in the Congress due to his proximity to the Gandhi family, his party could never retain its past glory in his native district after being demolished in the Hindutva wave post-1989.
On Jan 7, AAP national convenor and Delhi chief minister took the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA bloc) by surprise by announcing Chaitar, then incarcerated for allegedly assaulting forest officers, as Bharuch’s AAP candidate. Kejriwal’s proclamation riled many allies as seat-sharing was still being discussed.
Congress agreed, paving the way for the first election since 1977 without a candidate from the party. Ahmed Patel won the Lok Sabha polls from this seat in 1977, 1980 and 1984.
AAP’s choice has infused some excite ment in what is seen as a one-sided contest with Chaitar, the 36-year-old former protege of Chhotu Vasava, feverishly campaigning in the blistering heat to galvanize support in far-flung villages spread across the seven assembly seg ments. He has been relentlessly criticizing the BJP by dubbing his arrest in Dec 2023 for allegedly assaulting forest department staff as “politically motivated”. He was released on bail on Jan 21 but barred from entering his assembly constituency, Dediapada.
Knowing well that he is taking on a Goliath, Chaitar says he is no David. He remains resolute, banking on tribal solitary and urging tribals to vote for a change and oust ‘Mansukh dada’. “He has done nothing for 20 years in Bharuch. It’s time youngsters like me get a chance,” he said at a rally in Netrang where his supporters displayed banners reading ‘Ekaj chaale, Chaitar chaale’ (Chaitar is the only option).
“The BJP has been winning the Bharuch seat for decades, but they haven’t done much for the tribals, farmers, or educated youngsters. We have one of the biggest GIDCs, but the locals aren’t getting employment, and those with jobs are underpaid,” he said.
Nonetheless, 66-year-old Mansukh remains confident of winning with a lead of 4 to 5 lakh votes. The sitting MP, who has been winning this seat since 1998, projects his clean record, contrasting it with Chaitar’s 13 pending cases and incarceration. He constantly warns voters that electing Chaitar would herald a return of lawlessness that was eradicated by the current dispensation.
Also, Union home minister Amit Shah, while campaigning for Mansukh, termed the AAP candidate as an ‘urban Naxal’ and warned that Maoism would raise its head if he won.
The constituency has a sizable Kshatriya population, which assumes significance in the community’s anger against Rajkot BJP candidate Parshottam Rupala’s remarks. Though numerically not strong, Mansukh is confident of retaining their support and cites personal endorsements from several Kshatriya leaders.
Approximately 55% of combined tribal and Muslim votes are spread across seven assembly segments — Karjan, Bharuch, Ankleshwar, Dediapada, Jambusar, Jhagadia and Vagra. Barring Dediapada, all other segments are part of what is called India’s ‘Golden Corridor’ with leading corporate houses having units here.
Interestingly, despite an overwhelming number of tribal voters, Bharuch has always been a general seat that has been sending Adivasi leaders to the Parliament since 1989.
In addition to the BJP and AAP, Dilip Vasava from the BAP has entered the fray and is likely to siphon votes away from Mansukh or Chaitar. Dubbing it a ‘David vs Goliath’ battle, political observers say political rookie Dilip Vasava could eat into some tribal votes, thus affecting the margins.
Bharuch grapples with various challenges, ironically including drinking and industrial water supply issues despite being located on the bank of the mighty Narmada.
A flourishing port where exim trade prospered in the 16th and 17th centuries, Bharuch was plundered twice but quickly resurrected, leading to the saying ‘Bhangyu bhangyu toye Bharuch’ (Plundered repeatedly, yet Bharuch is resolute). June 4 will reveal whose heart breaks and who cements his political clout.