NewKerala.com

Gujarat Local Polls See 57.14% Turnout, Rural Bodies Lead Participation

Gujarat's local body elections concluded with an overall voter turnout of 57.14%. Taluka panchayats recorded the highest participation at 61.22%, while municipal corporations saw the lowest at 48.55%. Over 9,900 seats were contested across multiple tiers, with 736 seats already decided unopposed. Counting of votes is scheduled for April 28 to determine the composition of local self-government institutions.

Key Points: Gujarat Local Polls 57% Turnout, Rural Bodies Lead

  • Overall voter turnout at 57.14%
  • Taluka panchayats record highest turnout at 61.22%
  • Municipal corporations see lowest turnout at 48.55%
  • Over 9,900 seats contested across 15 corporations, 84 municipalities, 34 district and 260 taluka panchayats
  • Counting scheduled for April 28
2 min read

Gujarat local polls conclude with 57.14 pc turnout, higher participation in rural bodies

Gujarat local body elections concluded with 57.14% turnout. Taluka panchayats lead at 61.22% while municipal corporations see 48.55%. Counting on April 28.

"The polling marked the culmination of a large-scale electoral exercise conducted across 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats in Gujarat. - Election Officials"

Gandhinagar, April 26

Polling for Gujarat's local body elections concluded at 6 p.m. on Sunday, with turnout figures indicating moderate participation across the state's urban and rural local bodies.

According to the data, the overall voter turnout stood at 57.14 per cent.

Among the different tiers, taluka panchayats recorded the highest turnout at 61.22 per cent, followed by district panchayats at 60.66 per cent and municipalities at 58.12 per cent.

Municipal corporations registered a comparatively lower turnout of 48.55 per cent.

In Ahmedabad, turnout for the municipal corporation polls was recorded at 45.35 per cent.

Within the city, Gomtipur reported the highest participation at 62.35 per cent, while Thakkarbapanagar saw the lowest turnout at 36.29 per cent.

The polling marked the culmination of a large-scale electoral exercise conducted across 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats in Gujarat.

More than 9,900 seats were contested across these local bodies, with more than 10,000 seats in total forming part of the election process.

The elections also saw participation from more than four crore voters across the state, making it one of the largest grassroots democratic exercises in Gujarat.

Polling was conducted using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at thousands of polling stations, with extensive administrative and security arrangements in place.

In Ahmedabad district alone, more than 4,000 polling stations were set up for municipal and panchayat elections, supported by tens of thousands of polling personnel to ensure smooth conduct.

The elections featured a multi-cornered contest involving major political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and AIMIM along with independent candidates.

Notably, 736 seats had already been decided unopposed prior to polling following withdrawals during the nomination phase.

With voting now complete, attention shifts to the counting process scheduled for April 28, when results will determine the composition of local self-government institutions across the state and shape governance at the grassroots level.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The difference between rural and urban turnout says a lot. In villages, people have more faith in their panchayats because it directly impacts their daily lives — water, roads, schools. In cities like Ahmedabad, many feel disconnected. Only 45% in Ahmedabad is disappointing. Still, good to see multi-cornered contests with AAP and AIMIM making it interesting. 🗳️
J
James A
From an outsider's perspective, 736 seats unopposed is surprising. It suggests there's still some consensus in certain areas, but also raises questions about opposition being weaker in those pockets. Still, 4 crore voters for local bodies is impressive for any democracy. Let's see if the counting on April 28 brings surprises.
R
Rohit P
Local body elections are the backbone of democracy, but with 57% turnout, we still have a long way to go. Why did Thakkarbapanagar see only 36%? That needs investigation. Meanwhile, Gomtipur at 62% shows that when local issues are real, people come out. Let's hope these elections bring clean water and better roads, not just empty promises. Counting day will be interesting. 🤞
S
Sarah B
It's encouraging to see local elections run with EVMs and proper security. The turnout in taluka panchayats (61%) shows rural communities value their representation. But I worry about the 48% in municipal corporations — urban apathy is a real challenge. Hopefully the results reflect the will of those who did vote, especially for local infrastructure improvements.
K
Kavya N

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50