Madhusudan Mistry in another role

Ahmedabad, 25 March 2014

Why Madhusudan Mistry has been chosen as candidate against Narendra Modi is difficult to understand.

If Mistry has some hold over some area in Gujarat, it is Sabarkantha. Mistry is in good terms with Christian Missionaries and NGOs, and therefore any tribal seat which is not reserved for schedule tribe could be appropriate for him.

It is a matter of surprise that he has been fielded on urban Vadodara seat where even after possible best campaign, Mistry’s fight against Modi will remain just token.

Mistry’s candidature is even more surprising because he is in-charge of party’s Uttar Pradesh affairs. Where actually he focus then? Vadodara or Uttar Pradesh?

About Madhusudan Mistry?

Mistry did M.A.(Geography), Diploma Course in Development Studies(Completed one year of two years course), Course in Advocacy educated at M.S. University , Baroda, Ruskin College Oxford (U.K.) and I.D.R, Boston U.S.A. He worked as a lecturer in a College in Ahmedabad in year 1969-70. He was a trade union- officer during 1970-78, and field officer of Oxfam (U.K.) during year 1979-85.

According to a chapter written by People’s Union for Civil Societies (PUCL)’s Ghanshyam Shah in Takashi Shinoda’s book ‘The Other Gujarat’ , Madhusudan Mistry established ‘Disha’ NGO in 1985. Mistry began his political activity as a trade unionist with the Majur Mahajan, Textile Labour Union in Ahmedabad. He then joined foreign organization OXFAM and supported small grass-root groups. The purpose of Disha was to work as a supportive core group for a network of grassroots people’s organizations.

Mistry was heading ‘Disha’ as Managing Trustee before he became member of 13th Lok Sabha in a by-election in year 2001. He was re-elected to 14th Lok Sabha in 2004.

Mistry was made president by former BJP man Shankersinh Vaghela. With the merger of the RJP with the Congress, Mistry became a Congressman.

As Congress candidate, Madhusudan Mistry lost the Lok Sabha polls in year 2009 from Sabarkantha seat by margin of over 17,000 votes.

In March 2011Madhusudan Mistry was picked up by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and made national general secretary of party. Mistry was made in-charge of party’s Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep units. He played his role in victory of Congress party in Karnataka assembly polls last year.

In June, 2013 Madhusudan Mistry was appointed as General Secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh and in-charge of Congress party’s Central Election Committee with four Secretaries under him. He was also made Chairman of screening committee of Congress party for Madhya Pradesh state assembly general elections.

Relatively non-controversial, Mistry was accused by Indore-based leader Raghu Parmar of taking money before finalizing his ticket for the Indore-5 constituency. Parmar alleged at a press conference that money had exchanged hands in a Gujarat hotel.

Early this year Mistry was fielded by Congress party in Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat. Mistry was elected, but is yet to take oath.