BJP candidate Harshad Parmar established a clear lead over Congress rival Bhrugurajsinh Chauhan in the Umreth Assembly bypoll as counting of votes progressed on Monday.
After nine rounds, Parmar secured 33,745 votes, while Chauhan polled 23,310 votes, according to Election Commission data. Other candidates, including three Independents, trailed far behind.
Counting began at 8 am with postal ballots at BJVM College in Anand district under tight security. A total of 206 postal ballots and 35 service votes were taken up first, followed by counting of EVM votes across 22 rounds. Random verification of VVPAT slips from five polling stations will be conducted at the end, officials said.
Nearly 700 personnel, including counting supervisors, assistants and micro observers, have been deployed. A three-tier security system is in place, restricting unauthorised entry, banning mobile phones inside the centre and prohibiting vehicles within a 100-metre radius.
The bypoll, held on April 23, recorded a voter turnout of 59.04 per cent across 306 polling stations, with six candidates in the fray. The contest is primarily between BJP’s Harshad Parmar and Congress nominee Chauhan.
The election was necessitated by the death of sitting BJP MLA Govind Parmar, a four-term legislator who passed away on March 6. Harshad Parmar, his son, is contesting his first major election.
Chauhan, a 62-year-old local leader, has served three consecutive terms as president of the Umreth taluka panchayat between 2000 and 2015 and is currently the Congress party’s central zone coordinator in Gujarat.
In the 2022 Assembly elections, Govind Parmar had retained the Umreth seat for the BJP.
(With inputs from PTI)