Voting occurred on Sunday for 9,200 seats across 393 local bodies, and the results are anticipated to influence next year’s Gujarat Assembly elections. The overall voter turnout across these bodies varied between 55.1% and nearly 70%. Over 4.18 crore voters were eligible to cast their votes.
Nine newly formed municipal corporations—Navsari, Anand, Nadiad, Mehsana, Porbandar, Gandhidham, Morbi, Vapi, and Surendranagar—participated in voting for the first time.
The central contest in Gujarat’s 2026 local body elections involves the ruling BJP, the Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has also nominated candidates for several seats. The AAP has significantly broadened its reach, contesting around 5,000 seats this time.
Noteworthy candidates in the elections include former Gujarat-cadre IPS officer M L Ninama, ex-radio jockey Abha Desai, and former AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayani. In Rajkot, Congress has nominated cricketer Ravindra Jadeja’s sister, Nainaba.
In the 2021 local elections, the BJP achieved a significant victory, winning 6,236 out of 8,470 seats. The party aims to improve upon or at least maintain that success.
Gujarat Local Body Result Trend 2026:
The BJP has already secured 736 seats uncontested, which has led to considerable controversy, with the opposition accusing the ruling party of pressuring candidates and influencing withdrawals.
The BJP has, however, refuted these allegations. With these uncontested victories, the party has gained an early edge even before the complete counting of votes occurs across the remaining seats.
The BJP celebrated its first win in the Vapi Municipal Corporation polls, securing all four seats in Ward No. 9. A total of 52 seats are being contested there, as reported by the Financial Express. Local sources noted that the ruling party also clinched Gandevi municipality in Navsari district within minutes of the counting commencing on Tuesday.
Additionally, it has won several wards in Una, Bahucharaji, Palanpur, Keshod, and Viramgam municipalities. In Valsad Municipal Corporation, it has won three wards and is making progress in various Surat wards. The party is leading in the ballot counting in Jamnagar and maintains an advantage in Rajkot Municipal Corporation.
As counting proceeds across other municipalities and panchayats, attention now turns to whether the party can maintain this early momentum throughout the day.
The AAP has also achieved its initial victories by winning seats in Junagadh’s Maliya Hati Taluka Panchayat and Gir Somnath’s Lalpur Taluka Panchayat.
