Amit Shah, Jeet Adani, CM Bhupendra Patel cast votes as Gujarat local body polls underway
Ahmedabad, April 26
Voting for local body elections in Gujarat began on Sunday with prominent political leaders and public figures stepping out early to cast their ballots, underscoring the importance of grassroots democracy in the state.
Among those who voted were Adani Airport Holdings Ltd Director Jeet Adani and his wife Diva Shah, who exercised their franchise at a polling station in Ahmedabad amid ongoing voting across the state.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also cast his vote along with his family at a polling booth in Gandhinagar.
He was accompanied by his wife Sonal Shah, son Jay Shah, and daughter-in-law Rishita Patel.
After voting, Shah visited a temple and offered prayers, and the family was seen displaying their inked fingers.
Gujarat Chief Minister Patel cast his vote at a polling booth in Ahmedabad soon after polling commenced at 7 a.m.
Calling the elections a "festival of democracy", Patel urged citizens to participate actively, describing voting as an important civic duty.
"Local body elections are being held in Gujarat today. This is a celebration of democracy, and every citizen should take part and fulfil their responsibility," he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi also voted in Surat and expressed confidence in strong public participation.
He said that people across Gujarat were turning out in large numbers to strengthen what he described as the politics of development championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sanghavi added that citizens were enthusiastic and ready to contribute to the state's development journey.
"Today, along with my family, people from the city and across the state have cast their votes. The citizens of Gujarat have stepped forward to further reinforce Prime Minister Modi's development-driven politics," he said.
Polling is being held for 15 municipal corporations, including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot, along with 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats. The counting of votes is scheduled to take place on April 28.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Jeet Adani and his wife voting is a nice gesture from an influential family. Local elections are indeed a 'festival of democracy' as CM said, but I wish there was more awareness in rural areas about the actual powers of municipal corporations. Hope the turnout is high across all booths!
Amit Shah ji's family voting together and then visiting a temple—that's the kind of cultural integration we need more of! Democracy and devotion go hand in hand. Wishing all candidates a clean campaign and a fair result. Vote for development, not just party lines! 🙏
It's great that the top leadership voted early, but let's not forget that voter apathy in urban areas has been a real issue. Many young people in cities don't bother to vote in local elections. I hope this year's 'festival of democracy' actually brings more first-time voters to the booths!
A small but significant step for Gujarat's democracy. The real challenge is for these elected representatives to address local issues like sanitation, streetlights, and traffic congestion. Let's hope the 'politics of development' translates into visible improvements on the ground. Fingers crossed! 🤞
Seeing Jeet Adani and Amit Shah's family at the polls is nice, but I wish the media gave equal coverage to common citizens and the issues they face. Local body elections are about drain cleaning, road repairs, and school fees—let's keep the focus on the real issues that affect our daily lives!
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.