Voting underway for Gujarat local body elections amid tight security

In Gujarat, voting is underway for Junagadh Municipal Corporation, 66 municipalities, and three taluka panchayats, including Gandhinagar, with polling taking place from 7 AM to 6 PM on Sunday, under strict security measures. Simultaneous bypolls are also being held for Botad and Wankaner municipalities and 124 vacant seats across local and urban bodies. Over 38 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes, and the counting of ballots is scheduled for February 18.
This election marks the first local body polls with 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), following the Gujarat government's 2023 decision to raise the quota from 10% based on the Justice (retd) KS Jhaveri Commission's recommendations .The existing reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) remains at 14% and 7%, respectively, keeping the total quota within the 50% ceiling, stated report.
According to information, a total of 5,084 candidates are in the fray, but 213 seats across various local bodies have already been declared uncontested, with only BJP candidates remaining after rival candidates withdrew. This includes eight out of 60 seats in Junagadh Municipal Corporation. The BJP has claimed victory in Bhachau, Jafrabad, Bantva, and Halol municipalities, where uncontested seats have given the party a clear majority.
The Congress has reportedly alleged that its candidates were coerced into withdrawing, a claim the BJP has dismissed. The Jhaveri Commission was established in 2022 following a Supreme Court directive that OBC reservations in local body polls must be based on empirical data. The panel conducted a study on backwardness levels in local governance, which led to the revised quota framework implemented in these elections.

(State Correspondent)