AAP’s Gopal Italia Takes Oath as MLA After Winning Visavadar By-Election

Gandhinagar: On June 19, by-elections were held for two Gujarat Assembly seats—Kadi and Visavadar. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gopal Italia emerged victorious in Visavadar, while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajendra Chavda won the Kadi seat. On Wednesday, July 16, Gopal Italia officially took the oath as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), administered by the Assembly Speaker, Shankar Chaudhary.

Why Were the Kadi and Visavadar Seats Vacant?

The Kadi Assembly seat, reserved for Scheduled Castes, became vacant following the demise of former MLA Karsan Solanki. In Visavadar, the seat was vacated after the sitting AAP MLA resigned and joined the BJP.In the 15th Gujarat Legislative Assembly, Gopal Italia (AAP) from Visavadar and Rajendra Chavda (BJP) from Kadi (Scheduled Caste reserved seat) were elected in the by-elections. On the 22nd day after their election, Italia was sworn in by Speaker Shankar Chaudhary, taking oaths of office, secrecy, and responsibility. With the oath, Italia, like Gujarat’s 180 other MLAs, became eligible for salary and allowances.

गांधीनगर

गुजरात विधानसभा के अध्यक्ष शंकरभाई चौधरी की उपस्थिति में आज विधानसभा में विसावदर विधानसभा क्षेत्र से नवनियुक्त विधायक @Gopal_Italia को विधायक के रूप में शपथ ली।

जय हिंद, जय भारत pic.twitter.com/PN9dl6Fpzh

— Rajesh Sharma ।ৰাজেশ শৰ্মা ।રાજેશ શર્મા 🇮🇳 (@beingAAPian) July 16, 2025

Also read: AAP Challenges BJP : Arvind Kejriwal Says If Party Manges To Buy Gopal Italia, I Will Quit Politics

Benefits for MLAs

After taking the oath, Gopal Italia and Rajendra Chavda will receive the following benefits:

1. Monthly Salary: Salaries vary by state, but in Gujarat, MLAs typically receive approximately ₹70,000 to ₹1,00,000 per month.
   
2. Allowances and Facilities:
   
   • Daily Allowance: MLAs receive a daily stipend for attending Assembly sessions.
     
   • Travel Allowance: Government support is provided for travel expenses, including access to airlines, trains, or government vehicles.
     
   • Accommodation: MLAs are provided with government bungalows or flats in the Assembly city.
     
3. Phone, Internet, Electricity, and Water Bills: These services are offered free or at subsidized rates by the government.
   
4. Staff and Office Expenses: MLAs receive a fixed allowance to cover office costs and support staff.
   
5. Pension: After serving a specific term, MLAs are entitled to a lifelong pension.
   
6. Healthcare: Special health schemes and free medical treatment are available for MLAs and their families.
   
7. MLA LAD Fund: Each MLA receives an annual fund for constituency development, which varies by state. This can be used for projects like roads, schools, and water supply lines.

These benefits ensure MLAs can effectively serve their constituencies while fulfilling their legislative duties.