Ahmedabad, April 18 -- Gujarat Congress President Shaktisinh Gohil on Friday announced that the party will contest bye-elections to the Visavadar and Kadi Assembly seats independently, without partnering with its INDIA bloc ally, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Gohil clarified that the decision was taken unanimously after analysing past electoral trends in the state. "Gujaratis have never voted for a third front. Here, it is either Congress or the BJP," he said.

He further added, "During the last elections, the AAP tried its best. All of the big leaders of the AAP campaigned for the party, but they were still only able to get 10.5-11 per cent of votes and damaged the Congress party in elections."

"To defeat the BJP, the main opposition part...