In a noteworthy win, Dalit activist and lawyer Jignesh Mevani won the Vadgam Constituency in the Gujarat Assembly Polls. The 36 year old was an independent candidate and contested with the support of the Congress. Mevani managed to secure 95,497 votes to win. He beat the BJP candidate Vijay Chakravarti with more than 20,000 votes.
Mr. Mevani had taken up the forefront at the Ambedkarite Movement in Gujarat. In a place, where Dalits comprise about 7% of Gujarat’s population.
Jignesh Mevani came into the limelight in July 2016. He became the face of the Dalit backlash after four Dalit youths were tortured by vigilantes. He is part of the Una Dalit Atyachar Ladhai Samiti and the Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch. Jignesh also led a Dalit Asmita Yatra (a march for self respect) from Ahmedabad to Una with thousands of Dalits from across the State and demanded justice for the Una victims.
