Jasdan bypolls: Political charges fly, voting ends peacefully

The polling day in Jasdan constituency of Gujarat assembly began on a stormy note when a BJP cadre circulated a picture of him pressing the EVM button for BJP candidate Kunvarji Bavaliya, on a social media group. The incident was reported in the initial hour of voting, creating a tense atmosphere.

The situation worsened when the police detained three Congress MLAs in the poll-bound areas. The police detained Lathi MLA Virji Thummar, Chotila MLA Rutvik Makwana and Tankara legislator Lalit Kagathra for illegally staying in poll-bound areas. These incidents resulted in verbal altercations between Congress cadres and the police. Thummar also staged a protest against the police and BJP government. The legislators, however, were released thereafter.

Reacting to the incident, Thummar said, "This is the vindictiveness of the police and BJP government. The BJP has sensed the loss in polls and that is why they are acting like this. The police also are working at the behest of their political bosses in Gandhinagar. The BJP leaders who are not voters here also are moving about freely but no actions have been taken against them."

Several voters at Virnagar village appeared with garlands of agricultural produce, marking their protest against government policy and farmer debt. An altercation between BJP and Congress cadres was also reported in Chitaliya village when Congress workers confronted BJP cadres who were flaunting the saffron party sash near the polling station.

Kunvarji Bavaliya cast his vote from Ajmera school at Vinchhiya town in the morning. Meanwhile, an audio tape of Bavaliya's conversation with one voter went viral, in which the BJP candidate was reportedly scolding the voter. Bavaliya, after polling hours, said, "I am confident of my victory with a huge margin. The Congress tried to create a ruckus on non-issues and they were doing this out of frustration as they are losing the polls."

Voters at Parevda village boycotted voting over the issue of water shortage. No technical snags in EVM or VVPAT was reported during the day and the law and order situation also remained peaceful during polling hours. The polling percentage was recorded at 71.27% and the counting of votes will be held on Sunday.