Chhotubhai Vasava: The King Maker
Chhotubhai (right) and his son Mahesh making a point about why they abstained from voting
█ The ‘Robinhood of Gujarat’, who had obliged senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel during the 2017 Rajya Sabha polls , ensures victory for BJP in 2020 RS polls by abstaining from voting; BJP’s Narhari Amin sails through
█ Vasava has been demanding a separate State of Bhilistan comprising tribal-dominated areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
Every territory can have only one king. And that is whatChhotubhai Vasava , the Robinhood of Gujarat, has proven. Decades ago when “Robinhood of pop” George Michael ruled the music scene and idealism wasn’t scoffed upon, I met our own Gujarati Robinhood who asked me, “What is that funny badge you are wearing?”
It was one of those metallic ones which read, “If you don’t stand for something, you fall for everything.”
“Give it to me,” he said after I explained its meaning in Gujarati. Robinhood, as I called him then, became a man whose causes, if not means to achieve them, impressed me and do so, still.
As the soleJanata Dal (United) MLA in Gujarat, Chhotubhai Vasava was the man who obliged Congress stalwart Ahmed Patel during the 2017 Rajya Sabha elections. In 2020, he along with his son Mahesh have formed their own national party the Bharatiya Tribal Party. Their target audience are: Adivasis, Tribals, marginalised and the displaced. BTP, in 2020 RS polls in Gujarat, is pretty much responsible for BJP’s victory.
The father-son duo who have issues with both the BJP and Congress refrained from voting. Though this information could not be verified till the Election Commission of India formally releases the results (not in yet at 10.30 pm), it is certain that Robinhood has stood by his cause at least.
Chhotubhai Vasawa has been consistently a part of Gujarat Vidhan Sabha since 2007 and is a vociferous campaigner for Tribal rights.
He has been demanding a separate State of Bhilistan comprising tribal-dominated areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. His BTP has eaten into Congress votes and decimated the party’s KHAM theory, when it comes to Adivasis. The BTP has also made inroads in Rajasthan and gained popularity.
█ Vasava has been demanding a separate State of Bhilistan comprising tribal-dominated areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
Every territory can have only one king. And that is what
It was one of those metallic ones which read, “If you don’t stand for something, you fall for everything.”
“Give it to me,” he said after I explained its meaning in Gujarati. Robinhood, as I called him then, became a man whose causes, if not means to achieve them, impressed me and do so, still.
As the sole
The father-son duo who have issues with both the BJP and Congress refrained from voting. Though this information could not be verified till the Election Commission of India formally releases the results (not in yet at 10.30 pm), it is certain that Robinhood has stood by his cause at least.
Chhotubhai Vasawa has been consistently a part of Gujarat Vidhan Sabha since 2007 and is a vociferous campaigner for Tribal rights.
He has been demanding a separate State of Bhilistan comprising tribal-dominated areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. His BTP has eaten into Congress votes and decimated the party’s KHAM theory, when it comes to Adivasis. The BTP has also made inroads in Rajasthan and gained popularity.
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