Gujarat gram panchayat polls: Retired forester elected sarpanch, defeats estranged son in two-way contest
In Gulkund gram panchayat in Ahwa taluka of Dang district, Sureshbhai Vagh (55) was up against 32-year-old Rajeshkumar – his son from his first marriage
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In Gulkund gram panchayat in Ahwa taluka of Dang district, Sureshbhai Vagh (left) was up against his son Rajeshkumar.Of the various battles that played out across the state during the Gram Panchayat elections held earlier this month, one of the most interesting ones was of an estranged father-son duo in Gulkund gram panchayat in Ahwa taluka of Gujarat’s Dang district.
Here, retired forest department employee Sureshbhai Vagh (55) was up against 32-year-old Rajeshkumar – his son from his first marriage.
As the results were declared Wednesday, Suresh emerged as the winner in the contest that had only two candidates. He had defeated his son, an advocate by profession, by over 500 votes.
Talking to The Indian Express, Suresh said, “As a forester, I worked in various districts in South and Central Gujarat, but due to my ill health, I took voluntary retirement and settled in my native village. I wanted to do something for the villagers, so I decided to contest the election. There was no opponent except my son against me, with whom I am not on talking terms. I have no relations with my first wife Vimalben either even though Ashmita, my daughter from that marriage, continued visiting me at my home.”
Sources said while Vimalben campaigned for Rajesh, Suresh’s second wife, Jayaben, with whom he also has two children, went door-to-door seeking votes for her husband. There were times when Suresh and Rajesh would cross paths but instead of talking, they would change their routes, the sources added.
The Gulkund gram panchayat has a total of 1,840 voters, of whom 1,624 cast their votes via ballot paper, said sources.
Expressing gratitude to the voters, Suresh said, “I will address the issues faced by the villagers and initiate development works.”
Suresh took voluntary retirement from the Government Forest Department last August. His final posting was at the Forest Department in Ahwa.
In the results announced Wednesday afternoon, Suresh received 1,078 votes while Rajesh got 505 votes. As the results were declared, Suresh’s supporters lifted him on their shoulders and took a round of the village.
Said Rajesh, “My mother got separated from my father when I was a child. I have spent around 18 years at a hostel at Ankleshwar in Bharuch district. My maternal uncles supported us… We don’t have any relations with my father.”
Rajesh, who practises at the Dang District Court at Ahwa, taking up criminal and revenue cases, said, “I wanted to contest the election so that, as a young person, I could contribute to my village… Though I am saddened by the results, I have not lost hope. I will try again next time.”
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