AAP to field jailed MLA and tribal leader Vasava from Bharuch Lok Sabha seat

The leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, declared on January 7 that Chaitar Vasava - a party legislator presently incarcerated following a criminal case - will contest the forthcoming general elections from Bharuch Lok Sabha constituency. Vasava is a distinguished tribal leader and one amongst the five AAP assembly members who achieved victory in the recent 2022 elections in Gujarat. Kejriwal paid a visit to the local Bharuch area of Netrang on Sunday to attend a tribal rally supporting Vasava, a first-time legislator held in high regard within the tribal communities of the area. Bhagwant Mann, Kejriwal’s counterpart in Punjab, and he plan to visit Vasava in jail next Monday.

During the rally, Kejriwal accused the ruling BJP of acting against the interest of tribals and claimed Vasava’s arrest was due to his advocacy for tribal rights. Vasava had been taken into custody on December 14, 2023 after he surrendered in response to allegations of intimidating forest officers and discharging a firearm as an effort to resolve a conflict regarding the cultivation of local forest land in Narmada district by the tribal community. His wife was implicated in the same case and subsequently arrested. Kejriwal contended during the meet that Vasava was targeted with a spurious case after he refused the BJP's monetary enticements and an offer of a cabinet post in exchange for transitioning to their party.

Kejriwal accused the BJP of viewing Vasava as a threat and charged the party with trying to suppress him to dissuade others who might be planning to oppose them. He also challenged why, despite being in power for over 30 years, the BJP failed to do anything beneficial for the Adivasi community. Kejriwal alleged that BJP harbours hatred towards the tribals and was no different from a gang of outlaws as they went so far as to arrest Vasava's wife in a false case. Furthermore, he praised Vasava for his exertions towards better education and healthcare facilities in Bharuch and Narmada tribal areas, an area where he alleged the BJP has failed miserably.