AHMEDABAD: As Gujarat heads towards crucial local body elections, the finalisation of the voter list has set the stage for an imminent poll announcement, while the BJP has accelerated its high-stakes candidate selection exercise through a secretive, high-intensity “sensing” operation across key cities.
The political momentum for Gujarat’s local body elections is intensifying. With the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise now complete, the Election Commission is set to release the final voter list by 5 pm today, a decisive step that transitions into the next phase, an official poll date announcement, likely as early as tomorrow.
As the administrative machinery locks in the electorate, the political battlefield is already heating up. Elections are expected to be conducted in two phases, first covering 15 municipal corporations, followed by a sweeping second phase that includes 34 district panchayats, 260 taluka panchayats, and 84 municipalities, making this one of the most expansive grassroots democratic exercises in the state.
Amid this rising momentum, the BJP has shifted gears. In a move that blends strategy with surprise, the party has launched its candidate “sensing” process across major cities such as Surat, Rajkot and Vadodara. This is no routine exercise; it reflects precision politics.
Borrowing tactics from an intelligence playbook, the BJP high command kept observer identities under wraps until the last moment, mirroring the unpredictability of income tax raids.
The result was shock among aspirants. In Rajkot, contenders were caught off guard when teams from Ahmedabad appeared unannounced, triggering a scramble to stake claims.
The intensity is particularly visible in Surat. At the Udhna BJP office, hundreds of workers and hopeful candidates gathered from early morning, carrying biodata and mobilising supporters.
The process has formally begun for wards 1 to 12, and with several of these being Patidar-dominated pockets, the political stakes are high.
Reinforcing the party’s internal process, BJP city president Paresh Patel said, “This process is deeply democratic every worker, even at the grassroots, is being heard and given a platform to present their claim. The final selection will reflect both merit and mass connect.”
However, beneath this democratic façade lies a sharp electoral calculation. Of the 12 wards under review, seven are Patidar strongholds, including Mota Varachha, Sarthana, Kapodra, Phulpada, Katargam and Singanpore, where the Aam Aadmi Party had mounted a strong challenge in the previous elections.
This time, the BJP appears to be leaving little to chance, with observers conducting granular assessments focused on both popularity and winnability.
The rush has been particularly intense in Varachha and Katargam zones, where ticket aspirants have turned up in large numbers, signalling fierce internal competition.
In Rajkot, the exercise has taken on a similar scale. At the BJP headquarters, ‘Kamalam’, a two-day sensing exercise is underway.
A team of nine senior observers, including state ministers such as Darshanaben Vaghela and Jitu Patel, is engaging directly with contenders ward by ward.
More than 50 aspirants per ward have reportedly come forward, turning the selection process into a high-pressure contest within the party.
The observers will compile a shortlist across 18 wards and forward it to the regional leadership, narrowing down the final candidates.
As the clock ticks towards the official poll announcement, the Election Commission is preparing to initiate the electoral process, while the BJP has already entered campaign mode, combining secrecy, strategy and scale in an attempt to retain its grassroots dominance.