# Kaushik Vekariya

Kaushik Kantibhai Vekariya (born 9 June 1986) is an Indian politician from Gujarat. He is a member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, representing the Amreli Assembly constituency as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Vekariya won the 2022 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election with a significant margin of 46,145 votes.

## Early life and education

Kaushik Vekariya was born on 9 June 1986 in Amreli, a city in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India, known for its rich cultural heritage and agricultural economy. Growing up in Amreli, Vekariya was exposed to the region's vibrant traditions, including festivals like Navratri and the Madhavpur Fair, which celebrates the legendary marriage of Lord Krishna and Rukmini in nearby Madhavpur Ghed. These cultural influences likely shaped his early understanding of community engagement, a theme that later became prominent in his political career.
Vekariya hails from a middle-class family with roots in Amreli, a district known for its agricultural contributions, particularly in cotton and groundnut farming. His father, Kantibhai Vekariya, was a small-scale trader, which instilled in him an appreciation for hard work and local trade dynamics. During his childhood, Vekariya was actively involved in local community events, often participating in Garba and Dandiya celebrations during Navratri, a festival deeply embedded in Gujarati culture.
He completed his primary and secondary education in Amreli, attending local schools where he developed an interest in commerce and economics, influenced by the region's trade-oriented economy. Vekariya went on to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) degree from Saurashtra University, studying at K.K. Parekh and Mehta R.P. Vidyalaya in Amreli, and graduated in 2008. During his time at university, he was known for his leadership qualities, often organizing cultural events and participating in student-led initiatives, which foreshadowed his later involvement in public life.

## Political career

Vekariya is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Prior to his election as an MLA, he served as the district unit chief of the BJP in Amreli, establishing his influence within the party at the local level. He contested the 2022 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election from the Amreli Assembly constituency and won with a margin of 46,145 votes, defeating his opponent from the Indian National Congress, Paresh Dhanani. He assumed office as a Member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly on 8 December 2022 and currently serves as the deputy whip of the BJP in the state legislature.
As an MLA from Amreli, Vekariya has been involved in local governance and community engagement, particularly during Gujarat's vibrant festival season. He has participated in events like the Madhavpur Fair, which celebrates the cultural heritage of the region, and is expected to engage with constituents during upcoming festivals such as Navratri and Diwali in 2025, fostering community ties through traditional celebrations. In June 2023, Vekariya attended a gathering of BJP leaders in Amreli to celebrate the opening of a new office for the Khodaldham Trust, which plans to establish an educational center in Ahmedabad, highlighting his involvement in community development initiatives.
In late 2024 and early 2025, Vekariya became embroiled in a political controversy in Amreli involving a forged letter that accused him of corruption, including allegations of accepting bribes for illegal activities such as sand and liquor smuggling. The letter, which went viral on social media in December 2024, was allegedly written on the forged letterhead of Amreli Taluka Panchayat President Kishor Kanpariya. The controversy escalated when four individuals, including two BJP workers, Manish Vaghasiya and Ashok Mangroliya, were arrested for orchestrating the defamation plot, driven by internal party rivalries. The situation intensified when a Patidar woman, one of the accused, was allegedly paraded by the police during a crime reconstruction, sparking outrage among opposition parties and community leaders. Former Congress MLA Paresh Dhanani launched the "Nari Swabhiman Andolan" protest, demanding justice for the woman, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) criticized the BJP's handling of the situation. The BJP moved to suspend the involved party workers, with Kanpariya confirming the suspension of Vaghasiya and Mangroliya in January 2025. Amreli District Police Chief Sanjay Kharat defended the police actions, stating that the investigation followed legal procedures, while the BJP accused the Congress of politicizing the incident.
Despite the controversy, Vekariya has continued to focus on his legislative duties, representing Amreli in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. His role as deputy whip underscores his growing influence within the BJP, especially following the party's strong performance in the 2024 Indian general election in Gujarat, where it retained all 26 Lok Sabha seats, and the 2025 Gujarat municipal elections, where the BJP secured significant victories across municipalities, including in Amreli district.

## Personal life

Vekariya is married and has a daughter. He often shares moments from his family life, such as celebrating his daughter's birthday, reflecting his commitment to family values.