Congress has once again shown where its loyalties lie — not with Gujarat, but with the BJP. By fielding a candidate from Visavadar, it has betrayed AAP and acted on BJP’s instructions. At a massive roadshow in support of AAP candidate Gopal Italia, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal hit out at Congress for its deceit and said the people of Visavadar will give it a fitting reply.
Reaffirming public faith in AAP’s honest politics, he expressed confidence that the party will win the by-election. During this, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Gujarat Prabhari Gopal Rai, Delhi Assembly LoP Atishi, Gujarat Sah-Prabhari Durgesh Pathak, Gujarat State President Isudan Gadhvi, Gujarat General Secretary Manoj Sorathiya and Rakesh Hirpara, MLA Hemant Khava, MLA Chaitar Vasava, MLA Sudhirbhai Vaghani, State Frontal Organisations President Praveen Ram, State President of the Kisan Cell Rajubhai Karpada, State Spokesperson Karsandas Bapu Bhadarka, along with a large number of office-bearers and workers were also present.
Addressing the road show, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal stated, “For the last 18 years, the people of Visavadar have not allowed the BJP to enter, and the party has not been able to win an election here in all these years. They may be in power in Gujarat, but they do not have an MLA from Visavadar.”
He continued, “Earlier, the people voted for Congress, and this time they voted for the Aam Aadmi Party. After this, the BJP launched an attack on Visavadar and began insulting its people. Earlier, the people had elected Harshad Ribadiya from Congress, but BJP used tactics to make him join their party, and then they bought him with money.”
The AAP Supremo highlighted that BJP is insulting Visavadar by horsetrading every elected MLA. He said, “In the 2022 elections, the people elected Bhupat Bhayani from the Aam Aadmi Party, but BJP took Bhupat Bhayani as well. BJP is openly saying that whoever the people of Visavadar elect, they will horse trade them.”
“Challenging the BJP, I say that this time AAP has fielded its biggest hero—Gopal Italia. Let BJP try to break Gopal Italia, and I will quit politics. The people of Visavadar must elect Gopal Italia with a huge margin so that BJP gets a tight slap,” he asserted.
Arvind Kejriwal said that Congress is also a number one fraud; it works for the BJP and sits in its lap. In the 2022 elections, five Congress MLAs and one AAP MLA went to BJP. Congress came to us and said that wherever its MLAs had defected to BJP, AAP should not field candidates. We did not field candidates in those constituencies because our aim was to defeat the BJP.
He added, “This time in the Visavadar election, we reminded Congress of its promise that it should not field a candidate, but Congress didn’t agree, because BJP had ordered it to field a candidate. That is why Congress is a betrayer, and the people should teach Congress a lesson too.”
The AAP Chief emphasised that Gopal Italia fearlessly fights corruption and will raise the voice of Gujarat. He stated, “Gopal Italia fights against the corrupt and fears no one; he takes on even the biggest corrupt figures head-on. If the people send Gopal Italia to the assembly, he will become the voice not only of Visavadar but of all Gujarat. He will raise the voice of Gujarat’s poor, agricultural labourers, and farmers, and that is why Gopal Italia must be sent to the assembly.”
He added that Visavadar had a major issue of fertiliser shortage, which Gopal Italia raised, ensuring fertiliser for the people. He also raised the issue of corruption in cooperative societies. If Gopal Italia reaches the assembly, BJP will be shaken, and he will become the true voice of the people. The people must elect him with a huge majority so he can become the voice of Gujarat inside the assembly.”
Meanwhile, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said, “On 19th June, the people of Visavadar should press only the ‘jhaadu’ button; there is no need to vote for Congress or BJP, as they are corrupt and dishonest parties. The people of Visavadar have been rejecting the BJP for 18 years. BJP has ruled Gujarat for 30 years, but they haven’t won in Visavadar for 18 years.”
He asserted, “If Gopal Italia goes to the assembly, he will raise the real issues on the ground. He is a man from among the people, and in the assembly, he will speak for the people. If good people go to the assembly, good laws will be made. If anyone offers you money in exchange for your vote, know that they are buying your vote, and after that, they will sell the same people for the next five years.”
The Punjab CM concluded by stating that those who have black money from corruption will come to you just a few days before the election and offer money for votes. Don’t refuse to take the money—it is your own looted money—but on the day of voting, press only the ‘jhaadu’ button.
Gopal Italia will neither fear nor bow before anyone: Atishi
On this occasion, Delhi Assembly LoP, Atishi, said, “I have come here today to make a heartfelt appeal to every mother, sister, daughter, elder, and youth—send Gopalbhai Italia to the Assembly with an overwhelming majority. Gopal Italia will neither be afraid of anyone nor bow before anyone. He will always raise his voice for you and fight for your rights. That is why, on the day of the election, every resident of Visavadar must press the button on the ‘broom’ symbol and elect Gopalbhai to the Assembly.”
If elected, I will raise every issue from the Assembly to the streets: Gopal Italia
AAP’s Visavadar Candidate Gopal Italia said, “If I am elected MLA with the love and blessings of the people of Visavadar, I will raise every local issue—from the Assembly floor to the streets. I will fight the battle over the Eco Zone inside the Assembly. I will highlight how our farmers are denied water for their fields and how grave injustices have occurred in land measurement. I will expose the rampant corruption in the marketing yards. Whether it’s getting plots for the poor, food for the needy, subsidies for beneficiaries, or rightful entitlements for the marginalised—I vow to struggle from Visavadar to the Assembly for each and every one of them.”
He further added that during Keshubhai’s time, the check dams and roads that were built still stand strong. But the roads built by the BJP today don’t last even three months. If I am elected MLA, I promise to build roads as strong as Keshubhai did. Cooperative societies have taken out crores in loans under farmers’ names, plunging them into distress. I want to make one thing clear: I am a common man, a son of the soil, and the son of a farmer. I carry no arrogance or discrimination. Whether someone belongs to any of the 18 castes or even comes from another party—if they bring genuine work, I will stay up all night to get it done. Even if a BJP supporter brings a legitimate issue, I will stand by them as their.
This time BJP won’t be able to break Visavadar’s MLA: Isudan Gadhvi
AAP Gujarat State President Isudan Gadhvi said, “The BJP has repeatedly disrespected the people of Visavadar. But this time, they won’t be able to break the MLA because the Aam Aadmi Party has fielded an exceptionally strong candidate. The people of Visavadar must give their all—body, mind, and resources—to ensure Gopal Italia wins by a huge margin. In Punjab, where AAP governs, farmers no longer wait in lines. CM Bhagwant Mann has ensured water access and fair crop prices. Once plagued by drugs, Punjab is now seeing a transformation under the Mann government’s strong de-addiction drive—something the entire nation is witnessing.”
Isudan Gadhvi stated, “This election is not just about Gopal Italia; it is about the future of Gujarat’s 5.4 million farmers. If the BJP loses again, it will be forced to waive farm loans. If Gopal Italia wins, they’ll be compelled to restore the crop insurance scheme. If AAP wins Visavadar, the BJP will have to ensure fair prices for agricultural produce. That’s why this election is crucial for every farmer. We must fight it without fear, without compromise. This battle will not only decide Visavadar’s fate but could change the course of Gujarat’s entire political landscape.”
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