Vadodara, 30 July (H.S.): Voting for the by-election to the Manjalpur Assembly seat in Vadodara city of Gujarat began at 7 am on Thursday and is underway. According to the Election Commission, the constituency recorded a voter turnout of 6.06 per cent between 7 am and 10 am, which increased to 14 per cent by 11 am and reached 14.27 per cent till 12:30 pm.

A total of 260 polling booths have been set up under 62 polling centres in the constituency, where more than 2.19 lakh voters, including 1.11 lakh male and 1.07 lakh female voters, are eligible to exercise their franchise. The main contest is between BJP candidate Satish Patel and Congress candidate Bhikhabhai Rabari.

Meanwhile, the Congress has levelled serious allegations against the BJP and the Election Commission. City Congress president Ritviz Joshi alleged that BJP leaders were openly campaigning on polling day while wearing party scarves, which he claimed was a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. He said that despite submitting videos and complaints, no action had been taken by the police or the Election Commission.

Congress leaders attempted to meet the Collector regarding their complaint. They alleged that the Collector left without hearing their concerns. In protest, Congress workers staged a sit-in outside the Collector’s office and raised slogans, saying, “The Election Commission should stop being a tool of the BJP.”

Ritviz Joshi said ignoring the complaint of a national political party was not appropriate in a democratic system and demanded that the Election Commission take impartial action.

2022 Assembly Election Recorded 60.48% Turnout

It is noteworthy that the Manjalpur Assembly constituency recorded a voter turnout of 60.48 per cent during the Gujarat Assembly elections in 2022. In that election, BJP’s late MLA Yogesh Patel secured 1,20,133 votes and defeated the Congress candidate by a margin of more than one lakh votes. The Manjalpur seat is considered a traditional stronghold of the BJP, and the party is making efforts to retain its strong position in the constituency this time as well.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar