Gujarat is set to hold crucial local body elections on Sunday, with polling for 81 municipalities and 32 district panchayats. The stakes are high for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main opposition Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is seeking to expand its footprint in the state.
Polling Details
Voting will take place from 7 am to 6 pm across the state. The elections are being held for 81 municipalities and 32 district panchayats. The counting of votes will be done on February 28.
Key Contests
The BJP is hoping to maintain its dominance in the state, while the Congress is looking to regain lost ground. The AAP, which made inroads in the recent Surat municipal corporation elections, is aiming to build on that momentum.
In the 2021 local body elections, the BJP had won 71 of the 81 municipalities and 28 of the 32 district panchayats. The Congress had won 10 municipalities and 4 district panchayats.
Campaign Highlights
The election campaign saw intense canvassing by all parties. The BJP focused on the development works of the central and state governments, while the Congress highlighted issues of unemployment and inflation. The AAP campaigned on its governance model in Delhi and Punjab.
Voter Turnout
Voter turnout is expected to be high, with the Election Commission making extensive arrangements for smooth polling. COVID-19 protocols are being followed at all polling stations.
The outcome of these elections is being seen as a litmus test for the parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the 2027 Gujarat assembly elections.
