Gulabsinh Rajput's Commanding Lead in Vav Bypoll

Congress candidate Gulabsinh Rajput leads the Vav assembly by-election with a margin of 13,978 votes over BJP's Swarupji Thakor after 13 out of 23 rounds of counting. The by-election follows Geniben Thakor's resignation upon her election to the Lok Sabha. The constituency witnesses a three-way contest with independent Mavji Patel in the fray.

In the hotly contested Vav assembly by-election in Gujarat's Banaskantha district, Congress candidate Gulabsinh Rajput has surged ahead with a significant lead. After thirteen rounds of counting, Rajput accrued 60,362 votes, outpacing his closest challenger, BJP candidate Swarupji Thakor, by 13,978 votes.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Congress MLA Geniben Thakor, who moved to the Lok Sabha mid-year. Notably, the Vav constituency has traditionally been a stronghold for Congress, a fact accentuated by Geniben's recent victories.

As the counting process continues in 23 rounds at 321 booths, the independent candidate Mavji Patel remains a noteworthy contender, ranking third with 15,927 votes. Amidst tight security, the election has seen a substantial voter turnout of 70.55%.

(With inputs from agencies.)