Local Body Polls 2025: Election briefs from across Gujarat

Gandhinagar: Voting is underway for the general and by-elections of local self-government bodies, including Junagadh Municipal Corporation, 68 municipalities, and three taluka panchayats. Polling began at 7 AM and will continue until 6 PM. As of 5 PM, an average voter turnout of 55% has been recorded.

This election process involves 19,84,730 male voters, 19,01,410 female voters, and 15 other voters, bringing the total electorate to 38,86,285. During this voting, the fate of more than 5,000 candidates will be sealed in EVMs. The counting of votes is scheduled for February 18.

News updates:

– A scuffle broke out between BJP and Congress supporters outside Ward No. 6, New Era High School in Sanand during the polling. It has been alleged that a Congress worker was beaten on the head and chest. A convoy, including the District Police Chief and LCB officials, rushed to the spot. Following this, the Ahmedabad District Congress President and Congress workers reached Sanand Police Station.

– A confrontation between a candidate and police occurred in Talaja at a polling station. Supporters of the candidate gathered outside, leading to a tense situation. As the crowd surged toward the polling station, the police and the candidate confronted each other over alleged violations of election laws. However, the situation was eventually brought under control, and the crowd dispersed after the matter was settled.

– A presiding officer in Kheda was caught in an intoxicated state. The officer, identified as Virendra Baria, was found drunk at the polling station during the Mehmadabad Municipality elections. Upon learning of the incident, the district collector immediately removed him from duty. A police complaint has been filed against him, and a case under prohibition laws has been registered. It was also revealed that the officer serves as an assistant teacher in a school in Mehmadabad.

– In Mangrol, Aam Aadmi Party’s Piyush Parmar lodged a written complaint with the Election Officer, alleging that two vehicles displaying BJP symbols were circulating in the area. In response, the Election Officer dispatched a team to investigate. Reacting to the complaint, city BJP president Dinesh Somaiya dismissed the allegations, claiming that AAP was making false accusations out of desperation after losing ground in the elections.

– The father of AAP candidate Ajaybhai Kandolia from Dhoraji Municipality in Rajkot district passed away due to a heart attack at a polling station before casting his vote. The 57-year-old, Harsukhbhai Kandolia, had arrived at the Technical High School polling booth but collapsed before voting. He was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

– A confrontation broke out between BJP, AAP, and Congress workers in Surat’s Suda Awas area during the by-election for Ward No. 18 (Limbayat-Parvat-Kumbhariya) of the Surat Municipal Corporation. A complaint was filed regarding a violation of the model code of conduct, as BJP workers were seen wearing party-branded sarees on voting day. The situation escalated into a heated exchange between Congress-AAP workers and BJP supporters. The police intervened and resolved the situation.

– An EVM malfunction was reported in Room No. 3 of Vinay Vidyalaya in Ward No. 7, Radhanpur. The issue persisted for an hour before the Mamlatdar arrived with a replacement EVM.

– In Bilimora, Congress alleged that an EVM malfunction prevented the Congress button from being pressed at Booth No. 5 of Ward No. 2, leading to protests and police intervention. Voting was temporarily halted. DeshGujarat