Shaktisinh Gohil
Prior to the Gujarat by -election, the Congress has made it clear that the party will not aligned with anyone in two seats. Gujarat Congress President Shaktisinh Gohil announced on Friday that the party will not form an alliance with its India Block Associate, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The Congress will contest the by -elections in Visavadar and Kadi assembly seats independently.
Gohil clarified that the decision was taken unanimously after analyzing the previous electoral trends in the state. He said, “Gujarat has never voted for the third front. Here, either Congress or BJP.” He further said, “During the last elections, AAP tried his best. All the big leaders of AAP campaigned for the party, but they were still able to get only 10.5-11 percent votes and harmed the Congress party in the elections.”
Appeal to you to withdraw candidates
Shaktisinh Gohali said, “To defeat the BJP, the main opposition party is Congress. We urge AAP to withdraw their candidates (for the upcoming Visavadar and Kadi by -elections). The Congress party will contest both seats.” However, Gohil insisted that the two parties would remain part of the India block at the national level. He said, “At the national level, we are all part of the India alliance and we are one.”
Why the by -election is being held?
Visavadar seat of Junagadh district is vacant since December 2023 after AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayani resigned and joined BJP. Meanwhile, the seat in Mehsana, a constituency reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates, was vacant on February 4 after the death of BJP MLA Karsan Solanki. The Election Commission has not yet announced the by -election dates.
Congress is out of power in Gujarat for three decades
The decision in the Congress party took place after the AICC session of the Congress in Gujarat on 8 and 9 April, during which the party indicated its intention for electoral victory in the state, where it has been out of power for the last three decades. The Congress also reiterated its claim on the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Mahatma Gandhi, both from Gujarat. (ANI)
