Vav Bypoll Sees 14.25% Voter Turnout by 9 AM Amid Intense Three-Way Contest

GG News Bureau
Banaskantha, Gujarat, 13th Nov. The Vav assembly seat recorded a 14.25% voter turnout by 9 am on Wednesday as polling commenced for the assembly bypoll in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, according to the latest data from election authorities.

Polling began smoothly at 7 am, with BJP candidate Swarupji Thakor among the early voters. Congress candidate Gulabsinh Rajput, though registered to vote in the Tharad constituency, offered prayers at a temple in Dhima village, expressing optimism for the election. Adding a twist to the contest, BJP rebel Mavji Patel, running as an independent candidate after being suspended from the BJP, is challenging both Thakor and Rajput in what has become a keenly watched race.

The bypoll was triggered after former Congress MLA Geniben Thakor vacated the seat to assume her role in the Lok Sabha from Banaskantha. With nearly 3.1 lakh eligible voters in Vav—1.61 lakh men and 1.49 lakh women—polling is being conducted using 321 ballot units under the supervision of 1,412 officials. Vote counting is scheduled for November 23.

Mavji Patel, who commands significant influence within the Chaudhary community, is expected to affect the vote distribution, given his historical ties to both the Congress and BJP. The Vav constituency’s voter base includes around 83,000 Thakor, 50,000 Chaudhary, and a mix of Dalit, Maldhari (OBC), and Brahmin voters.

The election outcome will serve as a key test for the BJP’s influence in a traditionally Congress-leaning seat and may also signal local support shifts due to the independent bid from Patel.