Calling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s landslide victory in Visavadar by-polls the semi-final of 2027, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal tore into BJP’s 30-year rule, blaming it for corruption, flooding, broken infrastructure, and mass unemployment. With Congress dismissed as BJP’s proxy, he said the people have made up their minds—now it’s AAP’s turn.
Launching the ‘Gujarat Jodo Abhiyan’, the AAP Chief announced that AAP ‘karyakarta(s)’ and leaders will visit every household at least five times before the elections. He urged people to join the movement by giving a missed call on 9512040404 and called on the youth to step up and commit two years to transform Gujarat. During this, Gujarat State Prabhari Gopal Rai; State President Isudan Gadhvi; Visavadar MLA Gopal Italia; State Organization General Secretary Manoj Sorathia; and Dediapada MLA Chaitar Vasava were also present.
Addressing a press conference during his Gujarat visit, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal stated, “In the Visavadar by-election, the people have given a resounding mandate to Gopal Italia of the Aam Aadmi Party. We had won this seat even in 2022, but this time, the victory margin is three times higher than the last. This win is not isolated—this is the semi-final for 2027.”
Pointing to BJP’s three-decade rule in Gujarat, Arvind Kejriwal said, “For the past 30 years, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has governed Gujarat—and in those 30 years, it has left no stone unturned in ruining the state. Today, in Surat, you see flood water entering the drawing rooms and bedrooms of expensive upper-middle-class homes. Their televisions are floating in water.”
“Ten years ago, Surat wasn’t like this. This is purely man-made. This is the result of massive corruption. I was told similar flooding occurred in Vadodara and Junagadh too. Why? Because they colluded with builders to block natural water drainage, and now the water floods people’s homes,” he asserted.
On the state of infrastructure and services, the AAP Supremo added, “Roads in Gujarat are in terrible condition. Farmers suffer due to a lack of seeds, electricity, water, and fertilizer. They are being forced to wander from pillar to post. The youth are jobless—every day, papers are getting leaked. They cannot even conduct an exam properly. Most government vacancies lie unfilled, and the few recruitments done are on contract, without full rights—leading to exploitation. There isn’t a single section of society that is happy.”
Criticizing BJP’s repeated wins, Arvind Kejriwal reasoned, “Despite this suffering, BJP keeps winning again and again—because until now, the people of Gujarat had no real alternative. They wanted to defeat BJP, but whom could they vote for? Everyone knows Congress is in BJP’s pocket. Congress has essentially been contracted to ensure BJP’s victory in every election—and they do that job very well. People have lost trust in Congress. Even if Congress somehow wins, people know its MLAs will eventually join BJP.”
Pushing AAP as the alternative, he emphasised, “Now, the Aam Aadmi Party has arrived, and people see it as a genuine option. The way Visavadar voted reflects the widespread anger across Gujarat. I’ve spoken to people in many places—this same anger is everywhere.”
Reflecting on Gujarat’s political cycle, Arvind Kejriwal asserted, “The people have made up their minds. Congress ruled for 30 years, then BJP ruled for 30 years—now the cycle is complete. It’s time for the BJP to go. AAP will form the next government. We have two and a half years until the elections. In that time, AAP will campaign aggressively across Gujarat, reaching every home.”
Announcing a new state-wide campaign, the AAP Chief shared, “Today, we are launching the ‘Gujarat Jodo Abhiyan’ with two components. First, we are releasing a phone number—9512040404. We appeal to the people of Gujarat to give a missed call on this number and join AAP. Second, our ‘karyakarta(s)’ and leaders will visit every household at least five times before the election.”
Appealing to the youth, he stressed, “AAP is the party of the youth. Most of our leaders are under 40. I urge the youth of Gujarat—those who want progress, those who want a corruption-free future, those who want to uplift their families—to join AAP. This is a sacred mission. If you can, take a break from your work, give two years of your life to this movement. Whether you’re in BJP or Congress—if you care about Gujarat’s future, leave your party and join AAP. Together, we will build a prosperous, thriving, and progressive Gujarat.”
When asked about an alliance with Congress, Arvind Kejriwal clarified, “We have no alliance with Congress. Had there been an alliance, why would they contest against us in Visavadar? Congress was sent by BJP to defeat us, to cut our votes. They failed miserably and got scolded for it. That INDIA alliance was only for the Lok Sabha elections—there is nothing now.”
