On Sunday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced Gopal Italia as its candidate for the upcoming Visavadar Assembly by-election. Now, all eyes are on Congress to see if it announces a candidate for the seat, following Italia’s claims of a prior understanding between the two parties.
The Visavadar assembly seat, located in Junagadh district in the Saurashtra region, fell vacant following the resignation of the sitting AAP MLA Bhupat Bhayani, who later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The constituency is primarily agricultural with a Patidar population. While both Congress and AAP have won here in the past, the BJP dominated the Visavadar municipality elections earlier this year, securing all seats.
Addressing a press conference at the AAP Gujarat office alongside state president Isudan Gadhvi and general secretary Sagar Rabari, Italia urged Congress to honour the alleged agreement by not fielding a candidate.
He claimed a previous “understanding” had been reached where Congress contested from Vav while AAP will contest from Visavadar.
Gujarat Congress spokesperson Dr Manish Doshi dismissed Italia’s claims, stating that AAP had unilaterally announced its candidate without consulting Congress.
“Without consulting, AAP announced the candidate for the Visavadar seat on its own. It is their right to do so. But that doesn’t mean they can make any statements about or against Congress. Seeking support and making allegations cannot go hand in hand. Even if there was an understanding between two parties, that was behind closed doors and with senior leaders. In the coming days, Gujarat Congress will make its stance clear after consulting with the party’s state leadership and ground-level workers and leaders,” Doshi told Vibes of India.
Italia challenges BJP, vows to fight for farmers
Italia further accused the BJP of betraying farmers. “I challenge the entire BJP in Gujarat to bend me down. You cannot stop me by offering me money and putting pressure. We are ready to fight this by-election with full force,” Italia asserted.
He also criticised the BJP-controlled Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) for allegedly exploiting farmers. Italia condemned the decision to declare thousands of acres of farmland in Visavadar, Bhesan, and Junagadh as eco-sensitive zones, which he argued severely impacted farmers’ livelihoods.
“Farmers are facing injustice because of the BJP government. Raju Karpada, Isudan Gadhvi, and I have always raised matters related to farmers. They have always done injustice to Visavadar farmers,” Italia said.
“We are entering this election to be the voice of farmers, to wipe their tears, and to fight for their rights.”
“Proud to contest from Visavadar”
Expressing pride in his candidacy, Italia said he felt honoured to contest from a seat associated with former Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, known as a champion of farmers.
“It feels proud to contest from this seat, which is associated with the late Keshubhai Patel,” Italia stated, adding that his candidacy was unanimously decided at a meeting held at the residence of AAP’s national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal.
BJP yet to announce candidate
Italia accused the BJP of using authoritarian tactics, alleging that the party was rattled by AAP’s decision to field him. “Inside BJP, no one is ready to fight against me and accept the ticket. The entire BJP unit has betrayed the innocent farmers of this constituency and in the state,” he alleged.
While the by-election was initially delayed due to legal proceedings, it is now expected to be held in the coming months. The BJP has yet to announce its candidate.
Italia, a former police constable, gained prominence through his activism, including a protest where he threw a shoe at a Gujarat Minister of State for Home.
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