Gandhinagar: Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded its former Gujarat unit chief Gopal Italia as candidate for upcoming Visavdar assembly by-election. Party’s national general secretary (Organization) Sandeep Pathak made this announcement.

Visavdar seat is vacant due to resignation of then sitting AAP MLA who later joined ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The by-election for any vacant seat has to be held within six months, but Visavdar seat couldn’t see by-poll due to an ongoing court case. However reecently the case was withdrawn, following which the by-poll is likely to come in next few months. It is not clear at this point, whether the main opposition Congress party is going to field its candidate in Visavdar by-poll or let AAP to solely contest it against BJP. The by-poll is not declared even yet and therefore BJP has not declared its candidate. Italia however will get months to campaign as he is declared as a candidate. Italia was already camping in Visavdar even before the announcement of his candidature by party.

BJP in February this year won all seats of Visavdar municipality in regular election. However Visavdar assembly seat also involves the surrounding rural areas. AAP candidate Italia has been a controverial person. He first came into limelight when he hurled a shoe on then Minister of State for Home in Gandhinagar in presence of media. Ahead of the 2022 general elections of Gujarat Assembly, Italia’s various controversial remarks regarding Hindu faith and beliefs and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother had gone viral in videos. Italia was removed from the post of the State party chief after AAP didn’t perform well in the State assembly polls. Italia has faced number of arrests over various controversies. Looking at his past records, Italia would in all likelyhood play Patidar (Patel) card in attempt to win Visavdar seat.

Located in the Lion belt of Junagadh district in Saurashtra, Visavdar is mainly an agricultural area with large population of Patidar community. Former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel had selected Visavdar as his constituency in the past and represented it. However his son Bharat Patel lost a by-poll here later. Visavdar had been electing opposition MLAs recently, first the Congress candidate and in the last election AAP. AAP had won five seats in 2022 election. Visavdar was one of them. DeshGujarat