Local body polls: Heatwave hits voting, urban turnout touches 50%

Voter turnout in elections to 15 municipal corporations across Gujarat touched 50% on Sunday, as citizens braved intense heatwave conditions with temperatures nearing 45°C. Polling was largely peaceful across the state, barring minor skirmishes, while repolling was ordered at one booth in Surendranagar following an EVM malfunction.The elections covered 15 municipal corporations, including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot, along with 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats — making it one of the largest electoral exercises in Gujarat ahead of next year's assembly polls. Counting of votes is scheduled for April 28. According to the State Election Commission (SEC), municipal corporations recorded a turnout of 50.08%. In contrast, rural participation was significantly higher, with district panchayats logging 62.37% and taluka panchayats 63.14%. Municipalities saw an overall turnout of 62.63%. Polling was conducted under revised norms for Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservations, following delimitation and restructuring of wards in several districts. Elections were held for the first time in nine newly formed municipal corporations, including Navsari, Gandhidham, Morbi, Vapi, Anand, Nadiad, Mehsana, Porbandar and Surendranagar. P 2
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