Ahmedabad/Gir/Gandhinagar/Gujarat: Gopal Italia, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Visavadar, on Monday highlighted several pressing issues concerning governance, public welfare, and electricity procurement in Gujarat during the Assembly’s question-and-answer session. Speaking to the media, Italia said that he raised crucial questions affecting his constituency, Visavadar–Bhesan–Junagadh, as well as the wider state.
Hundreds of Panchayat Seats Remain Vacant
Under Question No. 17, Gopal Italia inquired about the number of vacant Sarpanch and ward member seats at the taluka and gram panchayat levels in Bhavnagar and Junagadh districts. According to the government’s reply, Junagadh district has one vacant seat in Junagadh taluka, two in Malia Hatina, and one in Vanthali, while Bhavnagar district has one seat each in Jesar and Sihor talukas.
In total, four Sarpanch positions have remained vacant for several years. Many elections and by-elections have been declared, but suitable candidates did not come forward. Additionally, Junagadh district has 85 vacant ward member positions across Junagadh, Mangrol, Visavadar, and Bhesan talukas. Bhavnagar district has 212 vacant ward member posts. Gopal Italia accused the ruling BJP of failing to fill these seats, citing irregularities in the voter list and improper implementation of reservation policies. He explained that in several villages, reserved seats for SC, ST, or OBC communities remain unfilled due to the absence of eligible candidates.
The MLA stressed that these vacancies prevent proper utilization of government funds allocated to gram panchayats, hindering development projects and public welfare initiatives.
Gopal Italia : Health Sector Questions and Concerns
Italia also questioned the government regarding major health schemes, including Ayushman cards, and the allocation of funds to private hospitals. The government revealed that in the past two years, approximately ₹1,712 crore was spent on private hospitals in Surat and Rajkot. Gopal Italia claimed that this huge expenditure could have been used to establish permanent and quality healthcare facilities in government hospitals, similar to initiatives by AAP governments in Delhi and Punjab under Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann, which focused on strengthening government hospitals, hiring staff, and providing free treatment.
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He added that with ₹1,712 crore, numerous modern government hospitals could have been built, alongside improvements to schools and health centers at the taluka level. If the expenditure for other cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, and Jamnagar is considered, the total spending on private hospitals could reach thousands of crores over the decades.
Electricity Procurement and Rising Bills
Gopal Italia further questioned the government on its agreements with private companies such as Adani and Essar for electricity procurement. He highlighted that while AAP governments in Delhi and Punjab provide up to 300 units of free electricity, Gujarat citizens face rising bills due to the government’s reliance on expensive private power despite owning multiple thermal, solar, and other power plants.
According to the government’s response, nearly ₹15,000 crore was spent purchasing electricity from Adani alone in the last two years. Gopal Italia criticized the government’s approach, stating that subsidies are given to private companies, yet the public ends up paying higher electricity rates, ultimately benefiting corporations while burdening ordinary citizens.
AAP Gujarat Demands Accountability
Through these questions and statements, Gopal Italia has once again spotlighted governance gaps, public fund misuse, and systemic failures in Gujarat. AAP Gujarat called for immediate corrective measures, emphasizing transparency, better management of local governance bodies, and prioritization of public welfare over corporate profits.