Manjalpur bypoll counting begins: BJP and Congress in direct contest

Counting of votes for the byelection to the Manjalpur Assembly seat in Gujarat's Vadodara city began at 8 a.m. on Monday (August 3, 2026) amid tight security arrangements. The counting exercise is being conducted at Bhavan's School premises in the Makarpura area, following the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India, officials said.

The process started with the opening of strongrooms and the verification of seals on electronic voting machines (EVMs). Counting of votes is being carried out under multi-layered security cover, with personnel from the state and central security forces deployed at the counting centre. Officials said the entire exercise is being monitored through CCTV cameras and the entry of unauthorised persons has been restricted.

The byelection was necessitated due to the demise of sitting BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Yogesh Patel, who passed away on June 2 after a prolonged illness. His death left the constituency vacant, prompting the Election Commission to schedule the bypoll.

The election witnessed a direct contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition Congress. The BJP fielded Satish Govindbhai Patel, a former councillor of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation, while the Congress nominated its Gujarat vice president and former minister Bhikhabhai Rabari. Several other candidates, including independents, were also in the fray, but the main fight was between the two principal parties.

Polling for the bypoll was held on July 30 across 260 polling stations located in 62 areas of the constituency. The exercise concluded peacefully with no untoward incidents reported, according to officials. The constituency recorded a voter turnout of 37.5 per cent in the byelection, which is considerably lower than the 60.15 per cent turnout seen in the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections.

The seat has traditionally been a stronghold of the BJP. Yogesh Patel, an eight-term legislator, represented the Raopura constituency in Vadodara five times between 1990 and 2007. After the delimitation of constituencies, he shifted to the newly created Manjalpur seat and won it in 2012, 2017 and 2022. This gave him eight consecutive victories in the Gujarat Assembly over a span of 36 years. His long association with the constituency made him a prominent figure in the region.

The counting of votes is being conducted under the supervision of Election Commission observers. Representatives of political parties are present at the counting centre to ensure transparency. Along with EVMs, the counting of postal ballots is also being taken up as per schedule. Strict security measures have been implemented to maintain order and allow a smooth counting process.

The result of the bypoll is expected to be declared later in the day. The outcome will determine the representative for the Manjalpur seat in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. The bypoll is being closely watched as it is the only electoral contest in the state at present, and the result may indicate the political mood in the Vadodara region.