Counting of votes begins for Manjalpur Assembly bypoll in Gujarat
Counting for the Manjalpur Assembly bypoll in Gujarat is underway following the death of long-time BJP legislator Yogesh Patel. The contest is a direct race between the BJP and the Congress party.
Why it matters
The result will determine the successor to a seat held by the BJP for decades, reflecting the party's regional influence.
Counting of votes for the byelection to the Manjalpur Assembly seat in Gujarat's Vadodara city began on Monday (August 3, 2026) morning amid tight security, officials said.
The counting exercise commenced at 8 a.m. on Bhavan's School premises in the Makarpura area as per Election Commission guidelines, with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) being taken up for counting under multi-layered security arrangements.
Read updates from the vote counting for Bankipur byelection
The bypoll, held on July 30, recorded a voter turnout of 37.5%. The election was necessitated due to the death of senior BJP MLA and former Gujarat Minister Yogesh Patel on June 2 following a prolonged illness.
The byelection witnessed a direct contest between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress.
The BJP fielded former Vadodara Municipal Corporation councillor Satish Govindbhai Patel, while the Congress nominated its Gujarat vice president and former minister Bhikhabhai Rabari.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in