Vadodara, July 13 (IANS) The Congress formally launched its campaign for the Manjalpur Assembly bye-election on Monday, with Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president Amit Chavda describing the contest as a referendum on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s governance in Vadodara and urging voters to back the Congress’ candidate, former state minister Bhikha Rabari.

Addressing the media during the party’s ‘Vijay Vishwas Sabha’ in Vadodara before accompanying Rabari to file his nomination papers, Chavda said the bye-election was not merely about filling a vacant Assembly seat but about challenging the BJP.

The Manjalpur seat fell vacant following the death of eight-time BJP MLA Yogesh Patel on June 2. The Election Commission issued the notification for the bypoll on July 6, with July 13 being the last date for filing nominations.

Scrutiny of nominations will take place on July 14, candidates can withdraw their nominations until July 16, polling is scheduled for July 30 and votes will be counted on August 3. The election process is to conclude by August 4.

Introducing the Congress candidate, Chavda said Rabari had served as a minister in the Gujarat government, is currently a vice-president of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, and had spent years working among people while consistently raising issues affecting poorer sections of society.

“I thank our respected national president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, our state in-charge Mukul Wasnik, and the entire leadership for selecting Bhikha Rabari as our candidate,” Chavda said.

He said party leaders, workers and people from different sections of society had welcomed Rabari’s candidature and joined him for the filing of his nomination papers.

“The Manjalpur election is not merely an election for one Assembly constituency. It is a fight against the corruption, mismanagement and high-handedness of the BJP’s triple-engine government in Vadodara city, where attempts are made to suppress the voice of the people through the misuse of power,” Chavda alleged.

He accused the BJP of failing to address recurring civic issues in the city, claiming that every monsoon the Vishwamitri River witnessed “man-made floods” caused by corruption, resulting in damage to people’s homes and property.

He also alleged that corruption, inflation, unemployment and education would be among the key issues raised by the Congress during the campaign.

“We will go to every household and meet every voter. The people of Vadodara will send a message to the whole of Gujarat and the country by blessing the Congress on the Manjalpur seat that the BJP’s corrupt rule will face rejection in 2027,” Chavda said.

Rabari, a senior Congress leader and former state minister, was announced as the party’s nominee for the bye-election earlier on Sunday.

His candidature sets up a direct contest with the BJP, which has fielded Satish Patel for the closely-watched Vadodara seat.

–IANS

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