The Gujarat government has declared elections in nine Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) in the state, with the tenure of 15 other APMCs extended by six months for administrative reasons, including ongoing electoral roll revisions. These decisions were made by the Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare, and Cooperation Department to ensure the smooth functioning of market committees. Agriculture and Cooperation Minister Jitu Vaghani stated that instructions have been given to start the election process in APMCs where the current elected bodies have completed their terms.
Vaghani elaborated that the Agriculture Department has directed the Director of Agricultural Marketing and Rural Economy to promptly announce election schedules in market committees where the term has ended. This move aims to enable the timely selection of farmer representatives at the grassroots level. Elections are set to take place in various APMCs across different districts, including Bhanvad, Dholera, Talod, Sagbara, Kukarmunda, Surendranagar, Kamrej, Ranpur, and Barwala.
The election procedures in these committees are expected to kick off soon, while the state government has granted a six-month extension for 15 APMCs where immediate elections cannot be conducted. Vaghani highlighted that district registrars and office personnel are currently involved in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists as mandated by the State Election Commission. Due to the voter list revision process, elections cannot be promptly held in certain market committees whose terms have expired or are close to expiration.
The APMCs receiving a six-month extension from the notification date include Thasra, Galteshwar, Deodar, Bhabhar, Dhanera, Junagadh, Dholka, Bavla, Becharaji, Shehera, Nasvadi, Chhota Udepur, Prantij, Gadhada, and Khambha. The government specified that market committees undergoing election processes based on judicial orders or court rulings are not eligible for the six-month extension.
