The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently declared its candidates for by-elections in Ahmedabad to fill five vacant assembly seats. These seats became available after incumbent legislators resigned to join the BJP. The upcoming by-election is scheduled for May 7, coinciding with the third round of the general elections. The BJP has nominated former Congress members and an Independent MLA for these seats, including Arjun Modhwadia for Porbandar, Chatursinh Chavda for Vijapur, Chirag Patel for Khambhat, and Arvind Ladani for Manavadar. Additionally, Dharmendrasinh Vaghela, who won as an Independent candidate in the last elections, will also be contesting on a BJP ticket.
Arjun Modhwadia, a veteran Congress leader, recently switched allegiance to the BJP after more than four decades with the former party. CJ Chavda, a three-term MLA from the Congress, will now be representing the BJP in the Vijapur constituency. Arvind Ladani, who won on a Congress ticket in the previous elections, has also crossed over to the BJP. Chirag Patel, another former Congress member, will be vying for the Khambat by-poll on behalf of the BJP after resigning from the Congress due to internal issues.
In the 2022 Gujarat assembly elections, the BJP secured a seventh consecutive term by winning 156 out of 182 seats, while the Congress managed to grab 17 seats. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured five seats, and a few seats were won by independents and the Samajwadi Party (SP). With six Congress MLAs resigning recently, the party’s representation in the assembly has decreased to 13 members. Currently, the Election Commission has announced by-polls for five out of the six vacant seats, with the Visavadar constituency pending due to a petition filed in the Gujarat High Court challenging the election results.
