Vote counting for Gujarat’s extensive local body elections is currently ongoing, with results anticipated later in the day. The elections covered 15 Municipal Corporations, 84 Municipalities, 34 District Panchayats, and 260 Taluka Panchayats, all of which took place on April 26. The counting process is being conducted at designated centers with appropriate security and administrative measures in place.
More than 9,000 seats are up for grabs in these elections, making it one of the largest grassroots electoral events in the state. Over 32,748 nominations were filed, with around 26,000 candidates remaining in the running after withdrawals, while some seats were won uncontested before polling.
The major political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), as well as independents and smaller parties, participated in the elections. The campaigning period ended after a mandated silence period before polling, which utilized electronic voting machines (EVMs) at numerous polling stations.
Voter turnout varied across different levels of local bodies, with Municipal Corporations seeing a 49.02% participation rate, indicating lower engagement in urban areas. Municipalities recorded a turnout of 59.50%, while District Panchayats and Taluka Panchayats in rural areas had higher turnouts of 61.69% and 62.38%, respectively. By-elections for 13 seats in 11 municipalities saw a turnout of 55.38%.
In Ahmedabad, the counting process is taking place at various centers, including LD Engineering College and Gujarat College, with traffic restrictions enforced in surrounding areas from midnight to facilitate the process and ensure security. These elections, held after delimitation and the introduction of a 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes in local bodies, are being closely monitored as an indication of political strength at the grassroots level ahead of future state elections. Results will be announced upon completion of the counting procedures at all centers.
