Gujarat assembly elections 2022: Gopal Italia to contest from Katargam

SURAT: On Wednesday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced two more candidates for two key seats in the Diamond City. While the party’s Gujarat unit president, Gopal Italia will contest from Katargam seat, the state general secretary Manoj Sorathiya will contest from Karanj seat. With this, AAP’s strategy of focusing on young leaders from the Patidar community to win the hustings has come to the fore. In Surat, Patidar votes play a key role in areas like Varachha Road, Kamrej, Karanj, Surat North, Katargam and Olpad. Majority of the Patidar voters are from Saurashtra.
Italia and Sorathiya had emerged in the political scene during the Patidar quota movement after 2015. The duo are are among the star campaigners of AAP too and were even in the race for party’s CM face for the state. Former journalist Isudan Gadhvi’s name was announced recently as the party’s CM candidate.
The Patidar quota agitation witnessed massive protest rallies and events under leadership of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) in these constituencies after 2015 but it did not impact BJP’s win in all these seats in the 2017 hustings. PAAS conveners Alpesh Kathriya and Dharmik Malaviya are contesting on AAP ticket from Varachha Road and Olpad, respectively. Former Congress municipal councillor, Praful Togadiya is contesting from Varachha Road, while Darshan Nayak, a co-operative leader will fight for Olpad seat.