A political row broke out in Gujarat after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal referred to cricket star Virat Kohli as a “son of the Koli community” while addressing a mass wedding ceremony in Bhavnagar.
The event was organised by members of the Veer Mandhata Koli community, and Kejriwal’s comment drew cheers from the gathering. However, the statement quickly drew attention as Kohli, the former Indian cricket captain, belongs to a Punjabi Khatri family and hails from Delhi.
The controversy soon reached the Gujarat Assembly, where Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi criticised the AAP leadership. Taking a dig at AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava, Sanghavi suggested he should “clarify the facts to his leader.” The BJP accused Kejriwal of attempting to appeal to caste sentiments for electoral advantage and questioned his understanding of Gujarat’s social dynamics.
Political analysts note that the Koli community holds significant electoral influence in the state, making identity-related statements particularly sensitive. Critics argue that the mix-up between “Kohli” and “Koli” may have been either a factual error or a calculated political message, further intensifying the debate over identity politics in Gujarat.