Umreth Bypoll Closes With 59.04% Turnout in Peaceful Voting

Overview

• Polling in the Umreth Assembly by-election, which ran Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., ended with an estimated 59.04% turnout for 245,623 registered voters across 306 booths.
• Election officials said voting proceeded peacefully with no major incidents, supported by webcasting at all stations, about 1,500 poll staff, three CRPF companies, and roughly 500 police and home guards.
• Authorities reported staged participation through the day, with turnout at 25.65% by 11 a.m., 37.14% by 1 p.m., and 54.43% by 5 p.m. before the evening tally reached 59.04%.
• Special access measures included 218 wheelchairs, 361 volunteers, home voting for some seniors and persons with disabilities, and dedicated vehicles to help voters aged 85 and above reach polling sites.
• The main contest features BJP’s Harshad Parmar and Congress’s Bhrugurajsinh Chauhan among six candidates, and counting is slated for early May with reports differing on May 2 or May 4.