Congress to Contest Gujarat Bypolls Without AAP

The Gujarat Congress has announced that it will contest the upcoming bypolls for the Visavadar and Kadi Assembly seats independently, opting out of any alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a constituent of the national-level Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

The decision was taken during a meeting of the Congress Political Affairs Committee held at the Circuit House in Ahmedabad on Friday. 

The meeting was chaired by Mukul Wasnik, party’s national general secretary and organizational in-charge for Gujarat, and attended by Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Shaktisinh Gohil, Leader of the Opposition Amit Chavda, former state president Jagdish Thakor, senior leaders Siddharth Patel and Bharatsinh Solanki, MLA Jignesh Mevani, Shailesh Parmar, and others. 

Discussions also took place regarding the appointment of district presidents, which are to be finalized by May 31.

Addressing the media following the meeting, Gohil stated that the Congress had decided unanimously not to form an alliance with AAP for the upcoming bypolls. “Looking at the history of elections in Gujarat, a decision was taken unanimously to not enter into an alliance with the AAP for the bypoll elections on two assembly seats,” Gohil said. 

“Alliances have their principles (gathbandhan dharma), which AAP failed to follow as it declared its candidate without consulting the Congress. We have an alliance at the national level. And a decision was taken at the national level to form an alliance in Gujarat. The Congress had vacated Bharuch seat along with Bhavnagar for AAP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.”

AAP has already announced Gopal Italia as its candidate for the Visavadar seat.

Gohil added, “The people of Gujarat do not vote for a third force. The history of Gujarat is a testament to it. No third party got more votes. Despite the damage caused by AAP, Congress is still the largest Opposition party in Gujarat. In the benefit of Gujarat people, it has been decided that Visavadar and Kadi Congress will contest on its own.”

Citing examples of past political experiments, Gohil said, “In the past, the Left, Samajwadi Party, and even Shankarsinh Vaghela, who was in government, tried, but only four MLAs were elected. I was told by Chimanbhai Patel when he tried forming his own party, but Gujarat’s people have never voted for a third party.”

He also pointed to Haryana, where he is in charge, stating, “Congress lost the Assembly elections there as AAP declined offers from former Congress Chief Minister Bhupendra Hooda on several seats.”

The Visavadar seat in Junagadh was vacated in December 2023 after then AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayani resigned and joined the BJP. The Kadi seat in Mehsana became vacant following the death of BJP MLA Karsan Solanki in February 2024. The Election Commission has yet to announce the dates for the bypolls.

Gohil also claimed that several AAP workers and leaders joined the Congress on Friday. Speaking at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan while welcoming the new entrants, he said, “People have cried in distress under the BJP rule in Gujarat. While the Congress is moving forward with a positive agenda, we welcome these workers and leaders who have decided to join the party in the interest of the people.”

According to the Congress, the leaders joined after becoming “disillusioned with the AAP.” Gohil appealed to the voters, stating, “Congress has decided, in the interest of the Gujarati people, to contest the elections in Visavadar and Kadi independently and strongly under its own symbol to win. And I request the Gujaratis to make Congress candidates win and, in 2027, bless us by making our government stronger.”

 

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