Dalit-rights activist Jignesh Mevani wins from Vadgam

Jignesh Mevani contested from Vadgam constituency

Jignesh Mevani, a 36-year-old lawyer and activist, has won from Vadgam constituency in Gujarat where he stood as an independent candidate.

Contesting with the support of Congress , Mr. Mevani secured 95,497 votes, almost 20,000 more than BJP candidate Vijay Chakravarti.

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Mr. Mevani has been at the forefront of the Ambedkarite movement in Gujarat where

Dalits comprise about 7% of the State’s population.

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Jignesh Mevani, face of Dalits in Gujarat

 

He first shot to prominence in July 2016 when he became the face of the Dalit backlash after four Dalit youths at Una were tortured by vigilantes for allegedly skinning a dead cow.

As a member of the Una Dalit Atyachar Ladhai Samiti and the Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch, he led a Dalit Asmita Yatra (a march for self-respect) from Ahmedabad to Una that mobilised thousands of Dalits across the State to come together and demand justice for the Una victims.