Gujarat's Umreth bypoll sees strong voter turnout with extensive arrangements

The by-election covers the Umreth constituency, where a total of 2,45,623 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots across 306 polling stations set up by the district election machinery.

Of these, 68 polling stations are in urban areas and 238 in rural locations, spanning 46 villages of Umreth taluka and the surrounding Anand rural region, along with the municipalities of Ode, Umreth and Boriavi.

Voting is being conducted between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., as scheduled by the Election Commission of India. Counting of votes will take place on May 4.

Six candidates are contesting the seat. Officials said special arrangements have been made to facilitate inclusive participation, including 4,174 first-time voters aged 18-19 years and 1,556 voters aged above 85 years.

In addition, 1,546 voters with disabilities are registered in the constituency. According to election officials, 88 senior citizens above 85 years of age and 13 voters with disabilities have already exercised their franchise through home voting arrangements.

To ensure smooth conduct of polling, around 1,348 polling personnel, supported by 22 micro observers and 19 district-level nodal officers, have been deployed, taking the total field workforce to nearly 1,500 officials.

All staff members were trained in multiple phases prior to polling day.

Security arrangements have been strengthened across the constituency, with deployment of two Deputy Superintendents of Police, four Police Inspectors, around 500 police and home guard personnel, and three companies of the Central Reserve Police Force to maintain law and order and ensure a peaceful voting environment.

Special facilities have been put in place to improve accessibility for voters, including 218 wheelchairs, assistance from 361 volunteers, and six dedicated vehicles for senior citizens above 85 years of age and persons with disabilities to reach polling stations.

Voter assistance booths have also been set up at all centres to help citizens with information and support services.

Election authorities have confirmed that voters may use any one of 12 approved identity documents, including Aadhaar card, driving licence, passport, PAN card, MGNREGA job card, pension documents with photographs, and other government-issued identity proofs, in addition to voter ID cards.

Non-resident Indian electors are required to produce their original passports for identification at polling stations.

In a parallel arrangement ahead of polling day, 212 officials and staff engaged in election duty cast their votes through postal ballot at a designated centre between April 15 and 17.

The district administration has also made medical arrangements, signing agreements with multiple hospitals in Anand and Karamsad to provide cashless emergency treatment to election personnel.

Oral rehydration solution packets have been distributed at polling stations as a precaution against heat-related health issues.

Officials said that the polling process is being monitored through webcasting at all stations to ensure transparency and real-time oversight throughout the day.

The Umreth Assembly constituency fell vacant following the death of sitting MLA Govind Parmar, a two-term legislator of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who died last month after a brief illness, leading to the Election Commission announcing a by-election for the seat.

- IANS