Gandhinagar/Vadodara, July 29 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday appealed to voters in the Manjalpur Assembly constituency to support Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Satish Patel in the by-election scheduled for July 30, saying the party remained committed to public welfare under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister said the BJP had continued to work for public welfare with the spirit of “Nation First” under the Prime Minister’s leadership.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party is continuously committed to public welfare with the spirit of ‘Nation First’,” CM Patel said.

Expressing confidence in the party’s prospects, he said the people of Manjalpur would ensure a decisive victory for BJP candidate Satish Patel.

“The people will ensure a resounding victory for BJP candidate Satish Patel in the Manjalpur Assembly by-election,” he said, adding, “Best wishes that the people of Manjalpur make the politics of development victorious and that Satish Patel secures a decisive victory.”

The appeal came a day before polling in the by-election to the Manjalpur Assembly constituency in Vadodara district.

According to the election authorities, polling will be held on Thursday under the supervision of the District Election Officer and Collector with all administrative, security and technical preparations completed.

A total of 2,19,494 voters are eligible to cast their ballots, including 1,11,645 men, 1,07,847 women and two third-gender voters. The contest is between two candidates, one each from the BJP and the Congress.

In the 2022 Assembly election, the constituency recorded a voter turnout of 60.15 per cent. The Election Commission has set up 260 polling stations across 62 locations, with all booths equipped with ramps, drinking water, electricity and toilet facilities.

Of these, two polling stations will be managed entirely by women staff, two by persons with disabilities, and five have been designated as model polling stations. Authorities said live webcasting and CCTV coverage would be provided at all polling stations.

Mobile deposit counters will also be available outside polling stations for voters to leave their mobile phones before entering. Presiding officers will update polling percentages every two hours through the ECINET application.

Election officials said 107 voters, including 90 senior citizens, had already cast their votes through the home voting facility conducted on July 22 and 23.

For election management, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Makarpura has been designated as the dispatch centre, receipt centre, strong room and counting centre.

Officials said sufficient numbers of Electronic Voting Machines and VVPATs had been made available following first-level checks.

To monitor compliance during the election, nine Flying Squads, three Static Surveillance Teams, two Video Surveillance Teams and one Anti-Defacement Team have been deployed.

Officials also said only one complaint had been received through the Election Commission’s C-Vigil platform since the election was notified, and it was resolved within the prescribed 100-minute timeframe.

Voters may cast their ballots using either their Elector Photo Identity Card or any one of the 12 identity documents approved by the Election Commission of India.

Registered Non-Resident Indian voters will be required to produce their original passport at the polling station. Wheelchairs and volunteers will also be available to assist senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

–IANS

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