Gujarat State Election Commission opened polling booths at 7 a.m. on Sunday in Gandhinagar, the state capital’s municipal corporation, as 130 candidates contested 44 seats across 11 wards. The BJP, which held 41 seats in 2021, faces a renewed challenge from Congress and AAP.
Okha municipality held elections for 32 of its 36 seats, with 75 candidates vying for the remaining unopposed seats, while Thara’s six wards elected 24 representatives from a field of 59 contenders. Bypolls in Kheralu, Chhota Udepur, Bayad and several district panchayats also took place, each filling a single vacancy.
The SEC has deployed over 1,200 police officers to safeguard polling stations, especially in high‑tension areas, and all votes will be cast on electronic machines. Counting is slated for October 13, with a contingency repoll on October 14 if any discrepancies arise.
Local resident Ramesh Patel, 62, who has lived in the city for 40 years, said the elections could reshape service delivery for his community.