Journalist-turned-politician Isudan Gadhvi has been named the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Assembly elections in Gujarat.
The elections are slated to take place in two phases on December 1 and December 5 in Gujarat. The counting of votes will happen on December 8.
His name was announced by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in presence of Gujarat party leaders including president Gopal Italia, who was also a contender, in Ahmedabad.
In the line with its Punjab initiative, AAP had earlier launched a campaign to invite suggestions from the people of Gujarat for the party’s CM face.
The Delhi chief minister had asked the public to send their suggestions through SMS, WhatsApp or voice message on 6357000360 or on email.
“We received 16,48,500 votes of people and 73 per cent of them selected Isudan Gadhvi for CM candidate of Gujarat,” said Kejriwal.
After the announcement of his name, Gadhvi turned emotional and hugged his mother who was also present on the stage. AAP chief Kejriwal also gave him a hug and offered him best wishes.
“I want to say heartfelt thanks to the Aam Aadmi Party, Arvind Kejriwal ji and especially the people of Gujarat for giving such a big responsibility to a common man like me. I promise that by becoming a public servant, I will always work for the public interest,” he tweeted.
A former television journalist, Gadhvi hails from the OBC (other backward castes) community which comprises 48 per cent of the state population. He became a household name in Gujarat with his popular show ‘Mahamantan’.
Gadhvi, 40, often describes himself as ‘Nayak’, a reference to the Anil Kapoor-starrer 2001 Bollywood drama in which the actor plays an activist who takes several pro-people measures when he was made the chief minister for a day. A popular speaker, Gadhvi boasts a clean image among the masses. He joined the party in 2021.
Gadhvi is likely to be fielded from Saurashtra where he enjoys huge popularity, especially among farmers.