The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday organised a ‘Vijay Vishwas Sabha’ in Jamnagar, which was attended by senior leaders including Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann, Gujarat in-charge Gopal Rai, co-incharges Durgesh Pathak and Gulab Singh Yadav, state president Isudan Gadhvi, and several MLAs and party office bearers.
According to the party, the gathering saw participation from various sections of society, including farmers, labourers, youth and women.
Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the party’s three-decade rule in Gujarat has led to corruption and deterioration in public services such as education, healthcare and infrastructure.
He claimed that roads and bridges in the state are poorly maintained and alleged that corruption is widespread in government departments. He further alleged that both BJP and Congress are working together politically, a claim that has been denied by both parties in the past.
Kejriwal said he had come to Gujarat to speak about the future of the state and urged party workers to take four key points to every village. Drawing comparisons with Punjab, he said that before 2022, the state had witnessed alternating governments led by Congress, BJP and the Akali alliance, but voters gave AAP a decisive mandate. He claimed that the AAP government in Punjab has since implemented several measures aimed at farmers and the general public.
On agriculture, Kejriwal said that farmers in Punjab are now receiving eight hours of electricity during the day for irrigation, compared to earlier supply patterns, and claimed that payments for crops are made on the same day. He also said that electricity for farmers has been made free in Punjab and that irrigation coverage has increased significantly. Referring to Gujarat, he alleged that farmers face issues such as delayed payments for crops, night-time electricity supply, and inadequate irrigation facilities, particularly in regions like Saurashtra where water scarcity remains a concern.
On healthcare, Kejriwal criticised the condition of government hospitals in Gujarat, alleging lack of infrastructure, staff shortages and poor service delivery. He said that in Punjab, the AAP government has introduced a health insurance scheme providing coverage of up to ₹10 lakh per family, including treatment in private hospitals, and suggested that similar policies could be introduced in Gujarat.
Speaking on electricity, Kejriwal claimed that while power tariffs in Gujarat are high, Punjab residents are benefiting from free electricity for households. He argued that such measures are aimed at reducing the financial burden on common people and questioned criticism from opposition parties regarding the viability of such schemes.
On financial assistance to women, he said that the Punjab government has announced a monthly payment of ₹1,000 for women and stated that such initiatives could also be implemented in Gujarat if AAP comes to power. He urged voters to support the party in upcoming local body elections, including district and taluka panchayats, municipalities and municipal corporations.
Bhagwant Mann, addressing the सभा, also criticised the long-standing rule of a single party in Gujarat and alleged that political alternatives have not been effectively presented in the past. He referred to irrigation and procurement policies in Punjab, claiming improvements under the AAP government, and contrasted them with issues faced by farmers in Gujarat. Mann also referred to the farmers’ protests in Delhi and raised concerns regarding minimum support price (MSP), stating that farmers’ demands have not been adequately addressed.
AAP’s Gujarat state president Isudan Gadhvi spoke about challenges faced by farmers, including issues related to irrigation, pricing and access to resources. He said that farming has become increasingly difficult and claimed that many farmers are struggling due to debt and lack of institutional support. He also spoke about social perceptions around farming and urged farmers to unite across communities.
MLA Gopal Italia criticised the current governance model in the state, alleging that it benefits a limited section of society. He referred to compensation measures in Punjab for farmers affected by natural disasters and said that such steps reflect a different approach to governance. He appealed to voters to support change and give opportunities to new leadership.
MLA Hemant Khava raised concerns related to rural development, alleging that villages and backward regions have not received adequate attention in terms of budget allocation and infrastructure. He highlighted issues such as lack of drinking water, irrigation facilities, healthcare services and education infrastructure in rural areas. He also referred to pending administrative work such as land measurement applications and raised concerns about the situation of tribal and Maldhari communities in regions like Gir, Barda and Alech, stating that basic amenities remain inadequate.
AAP leader Pravin Ram, while addressing the gathering, spoke about issues faced by farmers and common people, including access to water, crop assistance and administrative services. He also extended greetings on the occasion of Ram Navami and described the day as symbolic of the victory of righteousness. He reiterated the party’s appeal to voters to support AAP candidates in upcoming local elections.
The event comes ahead of local body elections in Gujarat, with AAP intensifying its outreach efforts in the state. The BJP has consistently maintained that Gujarat has witnessed significant development across sectors during its tenure, while Congress has also rejected allegations of any political understanding with the ruling party.
