The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced Gopal Italia as its candidate for the upcoming Visavadar Assembly by-election in Gujarat. Italia, the party's joint general secretary and a prominent leader within AAP in Gujarat, has previously served as the party’s convener in the state. His candidature is significant, as Visavadar, located in Junagadh district, has traditionally been a stronghold of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Italia’s rise in Gujarat politics began in 2020 when he joined AAP, and he quickly became the vice president of the party in the state. By December of the same year, he took over as the Gujarat President of AAP. His involvement with the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti and his background as a former Gujarat Police officer and revenue clerk add to his political profile. Italia, who hails from Botad in Gujarat, has been an outspoken critic of the state's governance and has emerged as a significant challenger to the traditional political parties.
Visavadar, which has seen shifting political allegiances in recent years, is currently vacant following the resignation of the AAP MLA, Bhupendrabhai Bhayani. Bhayani, who won the seat in the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections, later defected to the BJP, triggering a petition by BJP candidate Harshad Ribadiya, which led to a court order for the by-election. This election will be one of five vacant seats in Gujarat, with other contests in Khambhat, Vijapur, Waghodia, and Porbandar.
Italia's candidacy has drawn attention due to his vocal stance on governance and his controversial remarks in the past. Accusations of hate speech and internal party disputes have sparked media attention, though AAP has defended him, stating his remarks were misunderstood. As the by-election approaches, Italia’s controversial image could play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome in Visavadar. The contest is expected to be a key battleground in AAP's quest to establish a stronger foothold in Gujarat politics.