Gujarat: Mansukhbhai Vasava, The Tribal Strongman To Retain Bharuch Seat (image-facebook/Mansukhbhai Vasava)

Senior tribal leader and six-time MP Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava is fielded as the BJP candidate from the Bharuch constituency. The BJP’s first list includes 195 candidates.

In the upcoming Lok Sabha election, the Bharuch constituency will witness one of the most absorbing contests this time. The constituency itself has its speciality as it has been represented by a tribal leader since 1989 though it being an unreserved one. Ever since 1989, the BJP after winning the constituency has had a special grip over Bharuch. And Mansukh has been representing the seat since 1998.

The veteran leader emerged as the winner from the same seat by defeating the Congress’ Sherkhan Abdulsakur Pathan in the 2019 General assembly election.
Mansukhbhai earlier served as the former union minister of state for Tribal Affairs. His political saga began after winning the Bharuch constituency in a by-election held in 1998 which was once a stronghold of Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s political advisor Ahmed Patel.

Later he got re-elected to the Lok Sabha in 1998,1999, 2004, 2009, and 2014 from the same constituency five times in a row.

As for his educational qualification, the BJP leader has a Master’s degree in Social Work from Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad, and also holds a bachelor of Arts degree from South Gujarat University.

Mansukhbai has also served in the Government of Gujarat in 1994 as a Deputy Minister.

For the upcoming election, the Aam Aadmi Party has fielded tribal leader Chaitra Vasava as its candidate for the seat. Soon after the AAP announced the name of the candidate, the BJP too decided to field Mansukh Vasava to retain the seat. However, Chaitra is also considered very popular among the tribal community. And hence, the constituency will witness a fierce battle between the Vasavas.