Congress Appoints Salim Amdavadi as Bharuch City Congress President: A Rare Muslim Leader in Gujarat

After a gap of two decades, the Bharuch city Congress unit has a Muslim leader as its president. Salim Amdavadi, a four-term corporator and real estate businessman, has been appointed to this significant post by the All India Congress Committee (AICC). With this appointment, Amdavadi has become the only Muslim leader to hold this position in the entire state, marking a significant step for the Congress party in Gujarat.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary K C Venugopal made the announcement on Monday, appointing Amdavadi as the president of Bharuch City Congress. This move is seen as a strategic decision to strengthen the party's presence and appeal in the region.

Amdavadi, 56, is a resident of Bharuch town and a native of Manubar village in the district. He has been affiliated with the Congress party for the past 35 years. Having studied up to Class 12, Amdavadi is a farmer and a real estate businessman by profession. His community, the Vora Patel, has a significant presence in the Bharuch district, with a substantial voter base in various seats.

Speaking about his unique surname, Amdavadi told The Indian Express, “I have no connection with Ahmedabad; it is only our surname. We belong to the Bharuchi Vora Patel community, which has a majority of votes in different seats in the Bharuch district. I will work hard and get the party candidates elected in the local Nagar Palika, Taluka Panchayat, District Panchayat, Assembly, and Parliamentary elections.”

Rajendrasinh Rana, who has been reappointed as the Bharuch district’s Congress president for a second term, expressed his support for Amdavadi. Rana, whose name was announced on Saturday, said, “I am thankful to the AICC for giving me a second chance to serve it. The party made a good decision in appointing Amdavadi as the president of Bharuch town. This will help voters return to the Congress and vote for the party’s candidates in the future elections.”

The appointment of Salim Amdavadi as the president of Bharuch City Congress is a notable move that highlights the party's commitment to inclusivity and representation. It is expected to boost the Congress party's morale and electoral prospects in the region, particularly among the Muslim and Vora Patel communities.