Vadodara, July 30 (IANS) A brief clash broke out between workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress outside a polling station in Gujarat’s Manjalpur Assembly constituency on Thursday, after the Congress accused BJP supporters of violating the Model Code of Conduct during polling for the Assembly bye-election.
The incident occurred outside Panchsheel Vidyalaya, near the Vaishnodevi Society gate, where polling continued despite the confrontation.
The Congress alleged that BJP workers, wearing party scarves and beating drums while escorting voters to polling booths, were effectively campaigning in the vicinity of the polling station in violation of election rules.
Vadodara Congress spokesperson Nishant Raval said the party had lodged a formal complaint with the election authorities.
“BJP leaders are openly campaigning in the Manjalpur Assembly constituency. We are reaching the Collector’s office to submit a representation regarding the violation of the Model Code of Conduct,” he said.
According to local accounts, BJP workers maintained that they were conducting a voter awareness campaign.
Congress workers objected to their presence near the polling station. The dispute quickly escalated into a heated verbal exchange before turning into a brief physical scuffle between supporters of the two parties.
Following the incident, the BJP alleged that Congress workers had assaulted its supporters and attempted to capture the polling booth. The Congress denied the allegation.
Speaking to IANS, Police Inspector Kirit Chaudhary of Manjalpur Police Station said: “The situation had been brought under control and polling was not disrupted. Outside the Vaishnodevi Society gate, Congress and BJP workers clashed briefly. Congress was alleging that the BJP was violating the Model Code of Conduct and carrying out campaigning to gather votes.”
He added that no one had been detained in connection with the incident. “There is no detention as of now. The crowd has been managed and brought under control. Voting has been continuing at the nearby school. Around 10 to 12 members of both parties were present. At present, there is no situation of overcrowding or further scuffle, and the police are investigating the matter,” he confirmed.
The bye-election to the Manjalpur Assembly constituency is being held following the death of veteran BJP MLA and former minister Yogesh Patel.
The contest is a straight fight between the BJP’s Satish Patel and the Congress’s Bhikha Rabari.
According to the Election Commission of India, voter turnout reached 21.66 per cent by 2 p.m., with polling continuing peacefully across the rest of the constituency.
–IANS
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