Dalit leader from Gujarat Jignesh Mevani on Monday announced that he will contest the upcoming Assembly elections in the state as an independent candidate from Vadgam constituency in Banaskanth district.
The Vadgam seat is reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates, and the Congress’ Manilal Vaghela holds the seat in the outgoing Gujarat Assembly.
“We shall fight, we shall win,” he said on Twitter. His announcement came on the deadline to file nominations for the Assembly elections. Mevani said he will file his nomination at 12.30 pm on Monday.
In a Facebook post, the Dalit leader requested other political parties to not field a candidate from Vadgam. “The Bharatiya Janata Party is our prime enemy...there should be a direct fight between me and the BJP,” he wrote.
On October 21, Congress Gujarat President Bharatsinh Solanki had invited Mevani, Patidar movement leader Hardik Patel and Thakor community leader Alpesh Thakor to join the fight against the BJP. The same evening, Thakor had announced that he was joining the Congress.
Addressing a press conference on November 2, Mevani, the convenor of the Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch, had ruled out joining any political party. On November 22, Hardik Patel had said the Congress had agreed to the Patidar community’s demands for reservation.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!