Voting for the Gujarat local body elections began at 7 a.m. on Sunday and will continue until 6 p.m., with counting scheduled for Tuesday. The elections cover Junagadh Municipal Corporation, 68 municipalities, and three taluka panchayats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already secured 215 seats unopposed, accounting for nearly 10 per cent of the total contested seats. Police personnel have been deployed at polling stations, and enhanced monitoring systems have been put in place to oversee the voting process. The first elections in the region were held in 1934 when it was part of the Bombay Presidency, with Ahmedabad electing Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar, who later became the Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly. The State Election Commission of Gujarat oversees these elections, ensuring free and fair processes. In the 2021 local elections, over 8,235 seats were contested, with 237 candidates elected unoppose. The party gained these seats after rival candidates withdrew their nominations, paving the way for uncontested wins. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or see www.samaritans.org. For support in the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255.
Voting for the Gujarat local body elections began at 7 a.m. ….
