Ahmedabad, March 24 – The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released its first list of over 460 candidates for the upcoming local body elections in Gujarat on Tuesday. The party's state president, Isudan Gadhvi, described this move as the beginning of a shift towards broader participation in electoral politics.
In a video statement, Gadhvi said the list includes candidates for taluka and district panchayats, municipalities, and municipal corporations across the state.
He said the selection was finalized with the consent of the party's state leadership, screening committee, and central leadership.
"Today, AAP has given tickets to ordinary people to contest in taluka, district, municipalities, and municipal corporations, and has started a new form of politics," he said.
He said the party had long envisioned moving away from what he described as entrenched political practices. "We were tired of father-son politics; now we are starting the politics of ordinary people, and this is a fortunate development for us," Gadhvi said.
According to the party, more than 460 candidates have been included in the first list, with an emphasis on individuals who are socially active and not from established political families.
Gadhvi said the announcement marked the start of a wider electoral effort in which the party aims to provide opportunities to grassroots workers and ordinary citizens.
He alleged that, in the past, electoral opportunities were often limited.
"Until now, if there was a BJP MP, his son would want to become an MLA, his son would get tickets in the district panchayat or municipality, and ordinary workers would never get a chance," he said. "Either millionaires or the sons of leaders would get the opportunities."
He said the party was seeking to change this pattern.
"Now in Gujarat, AAP is giving opportunities for people to contest elections. For the common people, for the general public, for the ordinary man, a new dawn has arrived in Gujarat," he said.
The release of the first list is expected to be followed by further announcements, with party leaders earlier indicating that further candidates could be finalised in the coming days as part of its phased strategy for the elections.