Gujarat: Congress to go solo in bypolls on two seats, no alliance with AAP, says Shaktisinh Gohil

The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP has declared Gopal Italia as its candidate for the Visavadar seat.

“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. In the past, the Left tried, Samajwadi Party too tried who had their own government at the Centre… 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,” Gohil added.

Giving an example of Haryana where Gohil is in-charge, he said that 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, while the Kadi seat in Mehsana was vacant after the death of BJP MLA Karsan Solanki in February this year.

The Election Commission is yet to declare the dates for these two bypolls.

Meanwhile, Gohil also announced that several AAP workers and leaders joined the Congress on Friday. While welcoming the leaders at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, Gohil claimed that 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 Congress Party in the interest of the people,” he added.

The Congress claimed that the leaders joined the party after being “disillusioned with the AAP”.