Congress alleges sudden polling booth shift in Khokhra caused voter confusion, seeks action from Gujarat SEC

The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee has written to the State Election Commission alleging that a sudden change in polling booth locations in Ahmedabad’s Khokhra-Mehmedabad ward during the ongoing municipal elections caused confusion among voters and disrupted polling.

In a letter dated April 26, addressed to the Secretary of the State Election Commission in Gandhinagar, the Congress claimed that polling booths numbered 39 and 40 in Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Ward No. 44, Khokhra-Mehmedabad, were shifted without prior public notice on polling day.

According to the complaint, the booths, initially designated at the Sub-Zonal Office, were allegedly relocated to the Workers’ State Insurance Scheme premises on the morning of polling without informing voters or Congress candidates.

The party alleged that the abrupt change left several voters confused, with many reportedly returning without casting their votes after being unable to locate the revised polling station.

Describing the move as an administrative lapse, the Congress urged the Election Commission to initiate action against the officials responsible for the “rash decision” and sought an extension of polling hours to compensate for the time allegedly lost due to the confusion.

The letter also requested that voters assigned to Booth Nos. 39 and 40 be immediately informed of the revised polling arrangements.

A copy of the complaint has also been marked to the Ahmedabad District Collector.

There was no immediate response from the State Election Commission or district administration regarding the allegations.