Gujarat: Congress fields Bhrugurajsinh Chauhan for Umreth by-poll
Ahmedabad, April 3
The Congress on Friday named Bhrugurajsinh Chauhan as its candidate for the forthcoming Gujarat Assembly by-election from the Umreth constituency.
In a statement, the party said Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had approved the candidature.
Chauhan has held several organisational positions within the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC).
He has been serving as Coordinator of the GPCC Central Zone since 2025 and earlier worked as Pradesh Pratinidhi between 2020 and 2025.
He has also been appointed PCC in-charge for Nadiad, Mahudha, Thasra, and Galteshwar constituencies for 2026.
Previously, he was entrusted with responsibilities as PCC in-charge during the Morva Hadaf by-election in 2020 and the Karjan by-election in 2019.
At the local level, Chauhan has served as President of the Umreth Taluka Panchayat for three consecutive terms from 2000 to 2015.
He has also held the positions of President of the Mahi Katha Vikas Munch in Anand, Secretary of the Akhil Gujarat Kshatriya Munch, and Chairman of Ahima Seva Sahkari Mandali.
Earlier, the party had appointed four observers for the forthcoming by-election in the constituency, tasking them with overseeing campaign coordination, organisational preparedness, and feedback from the ground.
The observers were expected to work closely with local party units and monitor booth-level activities.
Party sources said the move is aimed at strengthening coordination and ensuring that campaign efforts remain aligned with the party's overall electoral approach in the constituency.
The Umreth Assembly seat in Anand district fell vacant following the death of sitting BJP MLA Govind Parmar on March 6, necessitating the by-election.
The Election Commission has scheduled polling for April 23, with voting counting on May 4.
BJP has fielded Harshad Parmar as its candidate. He is the son of the late MLA and currently serves as sarpanch of Chikhodra Gram Panchayat and president of the Anand Taluka Sarpanch Association.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting choice. His experience in the GPCC and with various Munchs shows he's a party loyalist. However, BJP playing the emotional card by fielding the late MLA's son, Harshad Parmar, is a very strong move. This by-poll will be a tough fight! 🤔
Observing from outside, it seems like a classic insider vs. legacy candidate battle. Chauhan's extensive organizational background is impressive on paper, but in Indian politics, the sympathy factor for the son of a sitting MLA who passed away is a powerful force. The Congress observers have their work cut out.
Good to see a candidate with a long record in local governance. Serving as Panchayat President for 15 years is no small feat. He should focus his campaign on that development work and connect with voters on local issues like water, roads, and agriculture. Wishing him the best! 👍
With due respect to the candidate's experience, I feel Congress is repeating an old pattern. They are promoting someone from within the party system, while BJP is directly tapping into the local sentiment and legacy. Congress needs fresh faces and new ideas to connect with young voters in Gujarat.
The key will be the work done by the four observers. Booth-level management and ground coordination have been Congress's weak points in Gujarat. If they can get that right this time, Chauhan's local connect might just give him an edge. Fingers crossed for a good, clean contest! 🙏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.