Polling for local body elections in Gujarat, including the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation, as well as Thara and Okha municipalities, is underway peacefully. Voting began at 7 AM this morning and will continue till 6 PM today. In addition to the municipal elections, bye-elections are also being conducted concurrently for vacant seats in Kheralu, Chhotaudepur, and Bayad municipalities, along with seats in the Devbhumi Dwarka district panchayat and Padadhari taluka panchayat.

In the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation, 130 candidates from the BJP, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and independent ranks are contesting for 44 seats across 11 wards. Over 2,59,000 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise to decide the electoral outcome. Our correspondent reports that strict security arrangements have been put in place to ensure smooth and peaceful polling, with over 1,100 police personnel deployed across polling stations.