In a significant political development in Gujarat, former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Mahesh Vasava formally joined the Indian National Congress on Tuesday. The induction occurred during the concluding ceremony of the second phase of the Congress party's Jan Akrosh Yatra in Dahod district.
A High-Profile Induction During Jan Akrosh Yatra
Mahesh Vasava, a two-term former MLA from Dediapada in Narmada district and the son of veteran tribal leader Chhotubhai Vasava, was welcomed into the party fold by senior Congress leaders. The event at Guru Govind Kamboi dham in Dahod saw the presence of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Chavda, Leader of Opposition Dr. Tushar Chaudhary, All India Congress Committee (AICC) leaders Mukul Wasnik and Ramnkishan Ojha, along with MLAs Anant Patel and Jignesh Mevani.
This move comes approximately nine months after Vasava ended his brief association with the BJP in April 2025. His entry into the Congress is viewed as a potential boost to the party's efforts to regain influence in Gujarat's tribal belts, which have been traditional Congress strongholds that have shifted towards the BJP in recent years.
Congress Leaders Attack BJP on Tribal Issues
During the induction ceremony, Congress leaders launched a sharp critique of the ruling BJP's policies concerning tribal communities. GPCC chief Amit Chavda accused the BJP government of failing to protect the interests of Adivasis.
Chavda highlighted alleged corruption in central schemes like MNREGA and the Nal Se Jal Yojna, as well as the contentious acquisition of tribal lands for infrastructure projects. "The Congress party historically ensured the rights of tribals on forest land, reservations, and education," Chavda stated. "But the BJP government, in the name of projects like Bharatmala, dams, sanctuaries, and airports, has been snatching away tribal land."
He further alleged that the administration was not issuing caste certificates to tribals and was forcing them to migrate to other states due to a lack of local employment. Chavda emphasized the Congress's commitment to stand with tribal communities, even if it meant facing police action or imprisonment in their fight for rights.
Vasava's Political Journey and Family Rifts
Mahesh Vasava's political career has seen several twists. He was previously the president of the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP), which has since disbanded. The BTP, born from the Bhilistan Tiger Sena—an outfit led by Mahesh advocating for statehood for the Bhilistan Adivasi belt—once held sway in districts like Bharuch, Narmada, and other tribal pockets of central Gujarat.
Vasava joined the BJP in March 2024, ahead of that year's Lok Sabha elections. This decision followed a disastrous performance in the 2022 Gujarat Assembly polls, which caused a split not only within the BTP but also within his own family. The 2022 elections saw his close confidant, Chaitar Vasava, join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and successfully contest from the Dediapada Assembly seat.
Meanwhile, Mahesh had shifted to contest from Jhagadia instead. This led to a direct confrontation with his father, Chhotubhai Vasava, who filed his nomination as an Independent from the same seat. The family feud forced Mahesh to withdraw his candidacy. The BTP's remnants in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh later formed the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), which found electoral success in the 2023 state polls.
Chhotubhai Vasava, the 81-year-old patriarch, is a formidable Bhil tribe leader. Beginning his career with the CPI(M), he later moved to the Janata Party and its successors. He won his first Assembly election from Jhagadia in 1990 on a Janata Dal ticket and has remained undefeated since. After a split in the JD(U) in 2017, he sided with Sharad Yadav and eventually joined the BTP founded by his son Mahesh.
BJP Downplays the Impact
Reacting to the development, Bharuch BJP MP Mansukh Vasava, who was instrumental in bringing Mahesh into the BJP last year, claimed the switch to Congress would "not affect the BJP." He attributed the move to personal grievances.
"Mahesh Vasava joining the Congress is due to his grudge with Chaitar Vasava, who was once his confidant," Mansukh Vasava stated. "His fight is with the Aam Aadmi Party, and it will not affect the BJP. Since he has joined a national-level party, he can do good work for tribal people. I know he does not have any grudge against the BJP."
Nevertheless, political observers see Mahesh Vasava's induction as a strategic move by the Congress to strengthen its base among tribal voters ahead of future elections. His family name and legacy carry considerable weight in the region, making this a noteworthy shift in Gujarat's evolving political landscape.
