Gujarat Local Body Polls Set For April 26; Counting On April 28

The State Election Commission of Gujarat has announced that local body elections will be held on April 26, with counting scheduled for April 28. Over 4.18 crore voters across the state will cast their ballots for nearly 10,000 seats, including 15 municipal corporations, 34 Zilla Panchayats, 260 Taluka Panchayats, and 84 Nagar Palikas. Cities like Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Kutch, Valsad, and Vapi are all part of this massive electoral exercise.

The election will mark a complete renewal of Gujarat's urban and rural governance, triggering the immediate enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct. The nomination process begins on April 6, allowing candidates to file and get their papers scrutinized. Authorities have confirmed that the elections will be conducted using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and district collectors are finalizing polling station logistics to ensure smooth voting for millions.

Polling will take place on Sunday, April 26, from 7 am to 6 pm. The State Election Commission has coordinated with local police to secure voting booths and manage voter flow. With a single-phase election across all local bodies, officials expect a strong turnout. Counting of votes will take place on April 28, with results expected the same day, making it a decisive moment for local governance in Gujarat.