Gujarat Bypolls Conclude Amid Political Turmoil and High Court Reprieve

Voting for six vacant seats of the Devgadh Baria Municipality in Gujarat concluded peacefully on Tuesday, along with panchayat by-elections in Kheda and Anand districts. The elections were held under tight security after months of political upheaval, defections, disqualifications, and a last-minute legal intervention by the Gujarat High Court.

In Devgadh Baria, polling took place in three wards across 10 polling stations. The district administration deployed police personnel to ensure free and fair voting, with election officials monitoring throughout the day. The by-election was necessitated after six BJP councillors were suspended for alleged anti-party activities. A total of 7,406 voters were eligible to decide the fate of candidates. Ward No. 1 saw a triangular contest between the BJP, the AAP, and an independent candidate. Ward No. 4 featured a direct fight between the BJP and the AAP for two seats, while Ward No. 5 pitted the BJP against the Congress for three seats.

On Monday, the Gujarat High Court set aside an interim order by a single judge that had stayed polling on two of the six seats, clearing the way for Tuesday's voting. However, the underlying challenge to the disqualification of the six councillors remains pending, with the matter scheduled for final hearing on August 10.

The political dispute dates back to October last year when a no-confidence motion was moved against BJP-ruled municipality president Dharmendra Kalal within seven months of his election. The High Court later ruled that the motion violated the Gujarat Municipalities Act and quashed the subsequent election of another president, restoring Kalal to office in December 2025. The disqualification of the six councillors by the competent authority on May 18, 2026, triggered the current by-elections.

Meanwhile, polling was also conducted for the vacant Chikhlod seat of the newly formed Phagvel Taluka Panchayat. The by-election gained significance as villagers had boycotted the general election in protest against the state government's decision to carve Chikhlod out of Kapadvanj taluka and merge it into Phagvel taluka. Voting took place from 7 am to 6 pm at three polling stations for 2,385 eligible voters. After an independent candidate withdrew, the contest became a direct fight between the BJP's Hiral Rathod and the Congress's Sonal Parmar.

In Anand district, polling for the vacant Palaj District Panchayat seat in Petlad taluka recorded a voter turnout of 58.91%. The seat had fallen vacant after BJP member Pradeep Patel resigned. The by-election emerged as a prestige battle for the ruling BJP, with the Congress mounting an intensive campaign and the AAP making it a triangular contest. In the last Anand District Panchayat election, the BJP won 33 of 40 seats, while the Congress won seven.