Chhota Udepur: Mohansinh Rathva, a former Forest Minister of Gujarat and a prominent tribal leader, passed away on Sunday following a prolonged illness. He was 82.

A ten-time MLA, Mohansinh Rathva began his political career in 1972 by winning the Pavi-Jetpur (Scheduled Tribe) Assembly seat on a Congress ticket. He was re-elected in 1975 and later served as a minister in the state government.

He contested the 1980 and 1985 Assembly elections on a Janata Party ticket. With the exception of the 2002 Assembly election, he won nearly every election throughout his political career. In 2017, he became an MLA for the tenth time, setting a remarkable political record.

In November 2022, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with his two sons. At the time, he said that while he had no personal differences with the Congress, he decided to join the BJP after being impressed by the party’s schemes for the tribal community. Subsequently, he promoted his son, Rajendrasinh Rathva, in active politics.

Mohansinh Rathva was also known for a unique tradition. In 1972, he started the practice of gifting a “Shagun coin” (a token of good luck) to his constituents on the occasion of Diwali and the Gujarati New Year, a tradition that was later continued by his family.

Expressing grief over his passing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Mohansinh Rathva dedicated his life to public service and the welfare of the tribal community. The Prime Minister conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family and supporters and prayed for the peace of the departed leader’s soul. DeshGujarat