Gujarat Elections 2017 | First tribal CM's son Tushar Chaudhary against Mohan Dhodiya

For Tushar Chaudhary, son of Gujarat's first tribal CM late Amarsinh Chaudhary, the Assembly election is a battle for remaining politically relevant.

Tushar, a doctor by qualification, is contesting as the Congress candidate from the tribal reserved Mahuva seat in Surat. He is pitted against sitting MLA and BJP candidate Mohan Dhodiya, who is seeking a second straight win, and third overall.

Though just 52, Tushar is quite a seasoned politician having been elected MLA once, and twice to the Lok Sabha. He served as minister in the UPA II government, and is one of the four working presidents of Gujarat Congress at present. However, his political graph has waned over the past few years, mainly due to his failure to prevent BJP from making serious inroads in the tribal belt, Congress's traditional stronghold.

His popularity among party workers has also taken a hit due to the tendency to push his family members' names for tickets.

The caste politics in Mahuva do not make his job any easier. The seat is dominated by Dhodiya Patels, while Chaudharys, the community that Tushar belongs to, are the second largest constituent.

"Unemployment is the key issue I am raising this election," Tushar said.

Mahuva (ST)

2002: BJP

2007: INC

2012: BJP

Voters: 2,14,604

Male: 1,06,052

Female: 1,08,552