Mineral Mafia vs Mr Clean

For the Congress, the mineral theft case against the Odedaras has become a strong rallying point in favour of Modhwadia, who had defeated Bokhiria by a thin margin of just over 4,500 votes in 2002.

Both Modhwadia, who is the leader of the Congress Legislative Party, and Odedara belong to the Mer community, which dominates this constituency of 1.67 lakh voters. So going by caste equations, the fight could go either way.

While Shantaben has the support of mineral magnets and the mafia, Modhwadia is riding on his ‘clean’ image and the goodwill he enjoys among fishermen of the Kharwa community. The fact that Modhwadia has the support of Gagan Shiyal, a trustee of the All Kharwas Community Trust, is likely to increase his appeal by about 40,000 Kharwa votes.

But Shantaben, after a massive rally in Porbadar city on Sunday, is ready to put up a big fight. “Last time, Modhwadia won by a very thin margin. This time, I am confident that people will vote for me considering the social work done by my family in the past years,” said Shantaben, whose grandfather Maldev Odedara has worked to promote literacy among the Mers. “My rivals have conspired to send my relatives to jail,” said Shantaben.