Ahmedabad: When Bhavesh Patel moved to Canada in 2015, contesting an election in his adopted country was not something he imagined in his wildest dreams. More than a decade later, the Gujarat-origin entrepreneur is on the campaign trail in Brandon, Manitoba, meeting residents and outlining his vision for the city with a population of 50,000-plus.Bhavesh, who is contesting from Ward 5, is among four Gujarat-origin Patels in a field of 25 candidates vying for seats on the Brandon City Council. He traces his roots to Pethapur in Gandhinagar.“After completing my bachelor’s degree in information technology, I pursued my master’s degree in Germany and later worked as a university faculty member before moving to Canada a decade ago,” recounts Patel.He initially built a career as a software developer before venturing into hospitality and other businesses. He now owns five properties in Brandon and also runs a telemarketing operation. The other Gujarat-origin candidates are Dhara Patel and Ketan Patel from Ward 8 and Mitesh Patel from Ward 10. Community observers say the presence of four Patel candidates marks a notable rise in electoral participation by the community in the city.Hemant Shah, a community leader from Winnipeg, said the development reflects a growing trend of greater political participation among Indian-origin communities in North America. “Earlier, it was often limited to funding or even canvassing, but in the past few years, we have seen a rise in public participation,” Shah said. “It is often driven by the wish for representation since cities such as Brandon have a sizeable Indian population.”Ketan Patel, a real estate professional who traces his roots to Umta near Visnagar in north Gujarat, said his years of community involvement encouraged him to enter the fray. “I arrived in Canada in 2013 and, after spending some time in Toronto, shifted to Brandon. I call the city my home,” he said. Ketan has long been associated with Brandon’s Indian and Gujarati communities. “We have helped organise cultural programmes and events, including Navratri celebrations and visits by Gujarati artists.”He said his community work and engagement with politics eventually prompted him to seek a seat on the council. “Among the issues I have been raising with locals are road conditions, snow clearing, neighbourhood safety, municipal services and greater transparency in the use of taxpayers’ money,” he said.
