Historic Elections in Gujarat: OBC Quotas Bring Change

Gujarat is witnessing elections for local bodies including municipalities and taluka panchayats, with newly increased OBC reservations. Over 38 lakh voters are participating, with the ruling BJP declaring uncontested wins in several areas after opposition candidates withdrew under controversial circumstances. The voting aims to reflect the state's new reservation policy, escalating OBC quotas to 27%.

On Sunday, elections are taking place across Gujarat for the Junagadh Municipal Corporation, 66 other municipalities, and three taluka panchayats, including Gandhinagar, amidst heightened security measures.

These elections mark the first instance where 27% of seats in local bodies have been reserved for Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The state government boosted the quota from 10% to 27% following a commission's analysis linking reservations to OBC population data.

The ruling BJP appears well-positioned to dominate, as many seats declared uncontested favor them, following withdrawals from opposition candidates, a move the Congress Party claims was coerced.