Gujarat – Manjalpur By-election Puts Vadodara Politics Back in Focus
Gujarat – The Election Commission has announced a by-election for the Manjalpur Assembly constituency in Vadodara, setting up Gujarat’s next significant political contest after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s strong showing in recent local body polls. Voting will take place on July 30, while the votes will be counted on August 3.
The vacancy arose after the death of senior BJP legislator Yogesh Patel, who represented Manjalpur for several terms. The BJP will enter the campaign with recent election results giving it a clear advantage, although the Congress has said it intends to fight the contest seriously. The Aam Aadmi Party has not yet decided whether it will nominate a candidate.
BJP draws confidence from local body election results
The BJP’s position has been strengthened by its performance in Gujarat’s local elections held in April. The party won all 15 municipal corporations, 78 of the state’s 84 municipalities, 33 of 34 district panchayats and 220 of 260 taluka panchayats.
In municipal corporation elections, the BJP received close to 60 per cent of the vote and secured 894 seats. The Congress won 95 seats, while the AAP finished with six. The outcome reinforced the BJP’s organisational reach ahead of the 2027 Gujarat Assembly elections.
Vadodara’s civic poll result also favoured the ruling party. The BJP retained the Vadodara Municipal Corporation after winning 69 of its 76 seats. The Congress secured six seats, while one seat went to another candidate. The AAP did not win any seat in the corporation.
Umreth result offers another recent indicator
The May by-election in Umreth has also added to the BJP’s confidence. BJP candidate Harshad Govind Parmar won the seat with 85,500 votes, defeating Congress nominee Bhrugurajsinh Chauhan, who received 54,757 votes.
The winning margin was 30,743 votes. The AAP did not contest the Umreth election, leaving the Congress as the main challenger to the BJP.
BJP spokesperson Dr Anil Patel said the party would rely on its cadre network, welfare programmes and public outreach during the Manjalpur campaign. He said the late Yogesh Patel’s work in the constituency and his long association with local residents would remain an important part of the party’s campaign.
The BJP believes its organisational presence and governance record will help it retain the seat by a comfortable margin. Patel also said the party was not shaping its strategy around possible opposition combinations or caste-based calculations.
Congress plans campaign around city concerns
The Congress has said it will focus on issues affecting Vadodara residents and select a candidate through consultations with local leaders. Party spokesperson Dr Manish Doshi said the party would put forward a candidate with broad acceptance among voters.
Doshi said the Congress planned to raise concerns linked to civic infrastructure, water drainage and urban development. He also criticised the condition of roads during the monsoon season and raised questions about the city’s planning under the Smart City programme.
The party has additionally pointed to concerns related to the Maharaja Sayajirao University, arguing that the institution’s standing and identity have weakened over the years. Congress leaders said the candidate selection process would begin with the Vadodara City Congress Committee before moving to the state and national leadership.
AAP considers its options after city unit changes
The AAP is reviewing its position amid changes within its Vadodara organisation. The party’s city president, Ashok Oza, was arrested last month in a case involving allegations of rape, blackmail and criminal intimidation. He had also faced a separate case linked to allegations of impersonating an Intelligence Bureau officer.
The developments led to a restructuring of the party’s local unit. Party sources indicated that the AAP may decide against contesting Manjalpur because of its weakened organisation in Vadodara, though no final decision has been announced.
AAP chief spokesperson Dr Karan Barot said the party was holding internal discussions before finalising its approach. He said organisational appointments had been made across Gujarat and that the party remained active through its farmers’ and youth wings.
The Manjalpur contest will now test whether the Congress can regain ground in Vadodara, whether the AAP chooses to participate, and whether the BJP can continue its recent electoral momentum.