The Congress kickstarted its campaign for the Manjalpur Assembly bye-election in Vadodara. Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president Amit Chavda emphasized the significance of this election as a referendum on the BJP’s governance in Vadodara. He urged voters to support the Congress’ candidate, former state minister Bhikha Rabari.
The Manjalpur seat became vacant following the passing of eight-time BJP MLA Yogesh Patel on June 2. The Election Commission announced the bypoll on July 6, setting July 13 as the deadline for filing nominations. Scrutiny of nominations is scheduled for July 14, with polling on July 30 and vote counting on August 3, aiming to conclude the election process by August 4.
Chavda introduced Bhikha Rabari as the Congress candidate, highlighting his past ministerial role in the Gujarat government and his dedication to addressing issues affecting marginalized communities. He expressed gratitude to the party leadership for selecting Rabari and emphasized the collective support behind the candidate.
Accusing the BJP of mismanagement, Chavda alleged that the election is not just about one constituency but a stand against corruption and suppression of people’s voices in Vadodara. He outlined key issues like corruption, inflation, unemployment, and education that the Congress aims to address during the campaign. Chavda affirmed the party’s commitment to reaching out to every voter and household to convey a message of change.
