Anant Patel: Educated school teacher-turned-MLA loved by tribals of south Gujarat

With no family connection in politics, this tribal leader is the tallest hurdle BJP has to cross to conquer Gujarat's tribal belt

Coming from a family with no background in politics, Anant is not only very popular among the tribals of south Gujarat, but also considered one of the most prominent tribal voices of opposition in the state Congress. (Facebook/Anant Patel)

Earlier this year, the announcement of a project in the Union Budget—linking the rivers Par, Tapi and Narmada to provide water to the parched regions of Saurashtra and Kutch—stirred up a hornet’s nest in the tribal regions of south Gujarat. Following a series of protests by the tribals that eventually reached Gandhinagar, the BJP government at the Centre was forced to call-off the project at the behest of state BJP chief CR Patil and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

Leading these rallies was Anant Patel, 45, a first-time Congress MLA from Vansda constituency of Navsari district in south Gujarat, and among the younger faces in the Gujarat Assembly. Coming from a family with no background in politics, Anant is not only very popular among the tribals of south Gujarat, but also considered one of the most prominent tribal voices of opposition in the state Congress. On Friday, he was seen sharing the stage at the party’s headquarters in Delhi in the company of its national leadership.

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A native of Unai village under Vansda tehsil of Navsari, Anant is a school teacher by profession. He did his masters in arts and bachelor in education from Veer Narmad South Gujarat University. Before entering public life, he used to run tuition classes at Unai village.

But, driven by the cause of tribal development, Anant forayed into politics in 2009, when he was elected sarpanch of Unai village. He kept climbing the political ladder, first as Congress taluka president in 2013, and then as president of Vansda Taluka Panchayat in 2015. In 2017, Congress nominated him from the Vansda constituency, and he won the seat.

Anant is also chairman of Gujarat Congress’s Scheduled Tribe department. Considered accessible and down-to-earth, Anant has arguably become the most influential voice among tribals, in a region that has been thirsting for a leader since the demise of former CM Amarsinh Chaudhary.

Because of his involvement in agitations and political activism, Anant has had several run-ins with the ruling dispensation. On October 8, he was attacked by a group of around 50 people when he was going to Khergam village nearby to raise awareness about a march named Sangharsh Yatra he was planning, over issues nagging tribal communities. Anant alleged he was attacked by the group at the behest of a local BJP leader. After sustaining a fracture in one of his ribs, which led to hospitalisation, Anant postponed the yatra and is now planning to carry it out after Diwali festivities.

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Given that tribals have been a constituency loyal to the Congress, the BJP launched its own Gujarat Gaurav Yatra, whose major focus was the tribal belt—two legs of their yatra passed through the tribal belt stretching from south Gujarat to north Gujarat. Significantly, both these legs were launched by Union home minister Amit Shah from Unai village, home to Anant. On Thursday, PM Narendra Modi chose Songadh, a tribal taluka in south Gujarat, to address a public rally, where he attacked the Congress for making “false promises” and “using tribals for political gain”. This is one of the regions where Anant also wields a lot of clout.

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A political observer said, “Anant has no family background in politics. But he has made rapid strides in the south Gujarat region. BJP considers him a major obstacle in conquering the tribal belt, where Congress is strong.”

Parimal A Dabhi

Parimal A Dabhi works with The Indian Express, focusing on the state of Gujarat. Leveraging his seniority and access, Dabhi is recognized for his reporting on the complex interplay of law, politics, social justice, and governance within the region. Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T) Core Authority (Social Justice and Law): Dabhi is a key source for in-depth coverage of caste-based violence, discrimination, and the state's response to social movements, particularly those involving Dalit and OBC communities. His reporting focuses on the societal and legal fallout of these issues: Caste and Discrimination: He has reported extensively on social boycotts and instances of violence against Dalits (such as the attack on a Dalit wedding party in Patan), the community's demands (like refusing to pick carcasses), and the political responses from leaders like Jignesh Mevani. Judicial and Legal Affairs: He tracks significant, high-stakes legal cases and judgments that set precedents in Gujarat, including the convictions under the stringent Gujarat Animal Preservation Act (cow slaughter), and developments in cases involving former police officers facing charges of wrongful confinement. Political and Administrative Oversight: Dabhi provides essential coverage of the inner workings of the state government and the opposition, ensuring a high degree of Trustworthiness in political analysis: State Assembly Proceedings: He frequently reports directly from the Gujarat Assembly, covering Question Hour, debates on budgetary demands for departments like Social Justice, and ministerial statements on issues like illegal mining, job quotas for locals, and satellite-based farm loss surveys. Electoral Politics: His work details key political developments, including election analysis (voter turnout records), party organizational changes (like the end of C R Patil’s tenure as BJP chief), and campaign dynamics. ... Read More