Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation polls on October 11

The Gujarat State Election Commission recently announced elections for the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC) and Okha and Thara nagarpalikas, with voting set for October 11. The election results are anticipated on October 13. GMC, comprising 11 wards, has 44 corporator seats. The State Election Commission announced the notification for the elections, set to be released on September 21, with the final day for filing nominations being September 26.

Nomination withdrawals can occur until September 29. The election process will utilize electronic voting machines (EVMs).

Established in 1966, the GMC received municipal corporation status in 2010, marking its inaugural elections in April 2011. The Congress party narrowly secured the win at that time. In 2016, the GMC had 32 seats, and a tie emerged between the Congress and BJP, each claiming 16 seats. However, a shift occurred when Congress councillor Pravin Patel defected to the BJP, enabling the latter to take control of the municipal corporation.

Following a delimitation exercise, the number of wards and seats in the GMC expanded to 11 and 44, respectively.

In 2021, the BJP achieved a significant victory in the state capital, winning 41 out of the 44 seats, while the Congress secured two seats, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won one. Apart from the GMC, the State Election Commission also declared general elections for the Okha and Thara nagarpalikas in Devbhumi Dwarka and Banaskantha districts, respectively. Additionally, by-elections for seven seats that became vacant due to various reasons in several local bodies of different districts and talukas have been scheduled.