Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel pays tribute to tribal leader Mohansinh Rathwa
Synopsis
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel paid tribute to two prominent figures on Sunday — veteran tribal leader and 10-time MLA Mohansinh Rathwa, who died aged 82 after five decades in politics, and Vidya Bharati Gujarat Pradesh organising secretary Mahesh Patange. Rathwa's passing marks the end of one of Gujarat's longest-serving tribal political careers.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel attended prayer meetings for Mohansinh Rathwa and Mahesh Patange on 12 July .
Mohansinh Rathwa , a 10-time Gujarat MLA and former minister, died on 5 July at the age of 82 after a prolonged illness.
Rathwa represented Pavi Jetpur and Chhota Udepur constituencies over a political career spanning five decades , beginning in 1972 .
He joined the BJP from Congress ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections but did not contest due to ill health.
Mahesh Patange , State Organising Secretary of Vidya Bharati Gujarat Pradesh , was honoured at a separate prayer meeting at Sanskar Dham, Godhavi .
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Sunday, 12 July attended separate prayer meetings for former minister and veteran tribal leader Mohansinh Rathwa and Vidya Bharati Gujarat Pradesh State Organising Secretary Mahesh Patange, offering floral tributes and meeting their bereaved families in Chhota Udepur district.
Tribute to Mohansinh Rathwa
Chief Minister Patel first attended the prayer meeting for Mohansinh Rathwa at the Shri Mohansinh Chhotubhai Rathwa Arts and Science College campus in Pavi Jetpur, Chhota Udepur district. He placed floral tributes before the late leader's portrait, offered condolences to the family, and prayed for the peace of Rathwa's soul.
The gathering drew a wide cross-section of political figures, including state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Jagdish Vishwakarma, Rajya Sabha MP Mukesh Rathwa, Lok Sabha MPs Jashu Rathwa and Mansukh Vasava, MLAs Abhesinh Tadvi and Jayanti Rathwa, former Lok Sabha MP Gita Rathwa, former Union Railway Minister Naran Rathwa, leaders from multiple political parties, social organisation representatives, religious figures, and a large number of citizens.
A Five-Decade Political Legacy
Mohansinh Rathwa, one of Gujarat's most prominent tribal political leaders, passed away on 5 July at the age of 82 after a prolonged illness. A 10-time member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, he first entered the Assembly in 1972, representing the Pavi Jetpur and Chhota Udepur constituencies across a career spanning five decades.
Rathwa served as a minister in successive Gujarat governments and was widely regarded as a leading voice for tribal welfare. He spent most of his political career with the Indian National Congress (Congress) before joining the BJP ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections, though ill health prevented him from contesting. He is survived by three sons, including Chhota Udepur (ST) MLA Rajendrasinh Rathwa.
Tribute to Mahesh Patange
Later on Sunday, Chief Minister Patel attended a prayer meeting for Mahesh Patange — popularly known as Maheshji — the late State Organising Secretary of Vidya Bharati Gujarat Pradesh, held at Sanskar Dham in Godhavi. Patel paid floral tributes and joined family members and associates in prayer. State BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma accompanied the Chief Minister, along with prominent figures from social, educational, and political spheres, party workers, and Patange's family.
Patange was associated with Vidya Bharati, a nationwide educational organisation, for many years and was recognised for strengthening its activities across Gujarat.
What the Condolences Signal
The Chief Minister's personal attendance at both prayer meetings underscores the political and social weight both figures carried in Gujarat. Rathwa's legacy in particular represents a pivotal chapter in tribal political representation in the state — his 10 Assembly terms and ministerial stints made him a rare constant across Gujarat's shifting political landscape. His late-career switch to the BJP also reflected the broader realignment of tribal constituencies in Gujarat ahead of 2022.
Point of View
Even without contesting, was symbolically significant for a party seeking deeper roots in Adivasi belts. The breadth of attendance at his prayer meeting — spanning sitting MPs, former ministers, and cross-party leaders — reflects the rare consensus a tribal stalwart of his stature commands. Whether the BJP can convert that legacy into durable electoral capital in Chhota Udepur and Pavi Jetpur remains to be seen.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Mohansinh Rathwa?
Mohansinh Rathwa was one of Gujarat's most prominent tribal political leaders and a 10-time member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, first elected in 1972. He served as a minister in successive Gujarat governments and was widely regarded as a leading voice for tribal welfare before his death on 5 July at the age of 82.
Why did Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel attend the prayer meeting?
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel attended the prayer meeting on 12 July to pay personal tribute to Mohansinh Rathwa, a veteran tribal leader and former minister, and to Mahesh Patange, the State Organising Secretary of Vidya Bharati Gujarat Pradesh. Both figures held significant political and social standing in Gujarat.
Which party did Mohansinh Rathwa belong to?
Rathwa spent most of his political career with the Indian National Congress before joining the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections. He did not contest the 2022 elections due to ill health.
Who is Mahesh Patange?
Mahesh Patange, known as Maheshji, was the State Organising Secretary (Prant Sangathan Mantri) of Vidya Bharati Gujarat Pradesh, a nationwide educational organisation. He was recognised for his long association with Vidya Bharati and his work in strengthening its activities across Gujarat.
Who attended the prayer meeting for Mohansinh Rathwa?
The prayer meeting was attended by state BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma, Rajya Sabha MP Mukesh Rathwa, Lok Sabha MPs Jashu Rathwa and Mansukh Vasava, MLAs Abhesinh Tadvi and Jayanti Rathwa, former Lok Sabha MP Gita Rathwa, former Union Railway Minister Naran Rathwa, and a large number of citizens, social organisation representatives, and religious leaders.
