Gujarat : Triangular Contest Expected in Vav Bypolls

Ahmedabad : The political landscape in Gujarat’s Vav Assembly seat is set for a heated contest as the bypolls are scheduled for November 13. Following the victory of Congress’ Geni Thakor in the Banaskantha Lok Sabha constituency earlier this year, the BJP is determined to reclaim the Vav seat, making it a crucial battle ground.

In the April 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Geni Thakor became the only Congress candidate to disrupt BJP’s streak in Banaskantha. This time, the Vav bypoll has attracted attention due to the dissolution of the earlier Congress-AAP seat-sharing arrangement, resulting in a three-way battle between the BJP, Congress, and AAP.

During the Lok Sabha elections, AAP had contested in Bhavnagar and Bharuch, but failed to secure wins. Now, with AAP expected to field Dr. Ramesh Patel, and Congress likely opting to contest independently, the bypoll in Vav is shaping up to be a competitive triangular fight.

The BJP, reeling from its loss in Banaskantha, is keen to regain its stronghold in Vav. To strengthen its campaign, the party appointed former minister and Mehsana MLA Arjunsinh Chauhan as the in-charge for the bypolls. Additionally, a three-member committee, including Asarwa MLA Darshna Vaghela, has been set up to strategize for the election.

Candidates for the Vav Contest

The contenders for the Vav Assembly seat bypolls represent a mix of political veterans and fresh faces from all three parties.

Congress:

KP Gadhvi

Gulabsinh Rajput

Thakarshi Rabari

Mavji Patel

AAP:

Dr. Ramesh Patel

BJP:

Mukesh Thakor

Shailesh Chaudhary

Swarup Thakor

Karansinh Thakor

Lalji Patel

Rajni Patel

Gajendrasinh Rana

The bypoll will take place on November 13, and the results are slated to be announced on November 23. The seat became vacant following Geni Thakor’s victory in the Lok Sabha elections, which marked a significant win for Congress, as she had earlier defeated BJP’s Swarup Thakor by over 15,000 votes in the 2022 Legislative Assembly elections. Previously, BJP’s Shankar Chaudhary had lost the seat in 2017, showing a pattern of Congress dominance in this region.

With no friendly alliances this time, each party is expected to put forth a rigorous campaign, leaving no stone unturned to claim the Vav seat in this high-stakes bypoll.