Goldie Singh, also known as Sona Singh, a social media microinfluencer with around 20,000 followers, has entered the political arena by filing her nomination as a candidate of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the Surat Municipal Corporation elections. She is contesting from ward number 29, representing the party’s strategy of fielding grassroots and non-traditional candidates in Gujarat’s civic polls.
Having built her online presence over the past five years through content centred on dance and expressions, Singh has only recently joined AAP. She expressed enthusiasm about her transition into politics and stated that she plans to begin campaigning actively, including conducting door-to-door outreach to better understand the concerns of residents in her constituency.
Singh has outlined several pressing civic issues she intends to address if elected. These include problems such as unsafe and dirty drinking water, poor drainage systems, frequent sewage overflow, deteriorating road conditions, and overall sanitation challenges. She emphasised that these issues disproportionately affect lower-income communities and require immediate attention to improve living conditions and prevent health risks.
In addition to infrastructure concerns, she also highlighted the difficulties faced by street vendors. According to her, municipal authorities often remove their carts, leading to financial losses as perishable goods are wasted and equipment is not returned. She indicated that protecting the livelihoods of such small vendors would also be a priority in her agenda.
Confident about public support, Singh credited her followers and local supporters for encouraging her to step into public service. She stated that she believes people trust her and that she aims to translate that trust into meaningful work for the community.
The Surat Municipal Corporation elections, which will cover 120 seats, are scheduled for April 26. The contest is significant, as the Bharatiya Janata Party has maintained control of the civic body for over three decades, making this election a key test for emerging political challengers like AAP.
