Gujarat bypoll voting underway in Visavadar, Kadi amid tight security

Voting is currently underway for the by-elections to two key Assembly seats in Gujarat–Visavadar and Kadi–marking a significant political battle among the BJP, Congress, and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Polling began at 7 am on Thursday and will continue until 8 pm, with a total of 294 polling stations set up in each constituency.

Both constituencies are witnessing triangular contests, with all three major parties fielding strong candidates in a bid to consolidate their presence ahead of future political challenges in the state.

Visavadar constituency: BJP eyes comeback

The Visavadar Assembly seat in Junagadh district became vacant in December 2023 after AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayani resigned and subsequently joined the BJP. In a bid to reclaim the seat it has not won since 2007, the BJP has nominated Kirit Patel.

The Congress has fielded Nitin Ranpariya, while the Aam Aadmi Party has placed former state president Gopal Italia in the fray, setting the stage for a competitive triangular contest.

In the last Assembly election held in 2022, Bhayani, contesting on an AAP ticket, had defeated BJP's Harshad Ribadiya–who had switched from the Congress–with a margin of 7,063 votes. This time, the BJP is aiming to break its 18-year-long losing streak in the constituency, buoyed by Bhayani’s switch to the party.

Kadi constituency: Triangular fight

The Kadi Assembly seat in Mehsana district, reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates, fell vacant following the death of BJP MLA Karsan Solanki in February 2024.

To retain the seat, the BJP has fielded Rajendra Chavda. The Congress has nominated former MLA Ramesh Chavda, who previously won the seat in 2012 but lost to Solanki in 2017.

AAP is also in contention with its candidate Jagdish Chavda. With all three parties putting forward experienced or locally rooted candidates, the seat is witnessing a closely fought triangular battle.

Voting across both constituencies is taking place under heavy security arrangements, with central forces deployed and polling stations being monitored through live webcasting to ensure transparency and safety.

The outcome of these bypolls is being closely watched as a barometer of public sentiment post the Lok Sabha elections and could signal political undercurrents ahead of the next Gujarat Assembly elections.

Counting of votes for both seats will take place on June 23.

(With inputs from syndicated feed)