Varanasi's veteran political landscape has lost a stalwart. Vijay Singh Gond, the eight-term MLA from Uttar Pradesh's Duddhi Assembly constituency and a senior Samajwadi Party leader, passed away on Thursday in Lucknow. He was 68 years old. The senior tribal leader had been battling a prolonged illness.
A Political Journey Spanning Decades
Gond's political career was both long and varied, beginning in 1980. He first entered the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Duddhi seat as a Congress candidate. His electoral journey saw him win from the same constituency multiple times, but under different party banners, showcasing his deep-rooted connect with the people.
He secured victories on a Congress ticket again in 1985, as an Independent in 1989, and then represented the Janata Dal in 1991 and 1993. His association with the Samajwadi Party began in 1996, and he won on the party's ticket in 1996 and 2002. During the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led government, he was accorded the status of a minister of state.
Most recently, Gond was re-elected to the UP Assembly in the 2024 bypoll from Duddhi as the SP candidate. This by-election was called after the sitting BJP MLA, Ramdular Gond, was sentenced to 25 years in prison in a case related to the rape of a minor.
Health Battle and Final Tributes
The leader had been undergoing treatment for kidney-related issues at the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) in Lucknow. His condition deteriorated, leading to his demise.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav immediately reached the SGPGI hospital to pay his last respects. Expressing profound grief, Yadav posted on X, "The demise of Samajwadi Party MLA Vijay Singh Gond from Dudhi is extremely heartbreaking!" He conveyed his deep condolences to the bereaved family.
Gond's mortal remains were expected to be taken to his constituency, Duddhi, by Thursday evening. His last rites are scheduled to be performed on the banks of the Kandhar river in Duddhi on Friday.
The Patriarch of Tribal Politics
Beyond electoral politics, Vijay Singh Gond carved a niche as a champion for tribal rights. He earned the reputation of being the "patriarch" of tribal politics in the region. In a significant legal and political fight, he contested all the way to the Supreme Court to get the Duddhi and Obra Assembly constituencies declared as reserved seats for Scheduled Tribes.
His commitment to social service predated his political life. Before entering the electoral arena, he worked at the Vanvasi Seva Ashram, which laid the foundation for his lifelong dedication to the welfare of tribal communities. His first assembly victory in 1980 on a Congress ticket was a testament to the trust he had already built.
The passing of Vijay Singh Gond marks the end of an era in Uttar Pradesh's tribal politics, leaving behind a legacy of relentless advocacy and formidable electoral success.
