Overview

• The Gujarat Congress has announced it will contest the Visavadar and Kadi by-elections independently, breaking local ties with INDIA bloc ally AAP.
• The decision follows AAP's unilateral declaration of Gopal Italia as its candidate for the Visavadar seat without consulting Congress.
• Congress leaders emphasized that Gujaratis historically reject third fronts, reinforcing their decision to go solo in these BJP-dominated constituencies.
• The Visavadar seat has been vacant since December 2023 after AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayani defected to BJP, while the Kadi seat became vacant in February 2025 due to BJP MLA Karsan Solanki's death.
• Despite the local split, both parties remain part of the INDIA bloc nationally, with Congress focusing on rebuilding its base ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.