Polling is underway in Gujarat for 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats, and 260 taluka panchayats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won 736 seats uncontested, its highest number since 2015.
The local polls are being held a year before the 2027 assembly elections, where the BJP has been in power since 1995. The voting began at 7am and will continue until 6pm, with slow voting in urban centres.
Over 41.8 million voters are eligible to vote for 25,537 candidates across Gujarat. The ruling BJP has rejected allegations of pressure and inducement for the withdrawals of Opposition party candidates.
The State Election Commission reported an average voter turnout of 15.1% for municipal corporations, 22.97% for municipalities, 22.12% for taluka panchayats, and 21.03% for district panchayats until 11:30am.
The elections are the first since the implementation of 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC), 50% for women, and rotation of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe seats.
The votes will be counted on April 28, with re-polling scheduled for April 27 if required.
