Voting for Gujarat’s crucial local body elections began on Sunday with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel casting their votes early in the day, urging citizens across the state to actively participate in what leaders described as the “festival of democracy.”

Amit Shah, accompanied by his family members, cast his vote at a polling booth in Naranpura, while Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel voted with his family at a polling station set up in a primary school in the Shela area during the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation elections.

After voting, Chief Minister Patel appealed to voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their democratic right. Calling elections a “festival of democracy,” he urged citizens to fulfil their civic duty by casting their votes responsibly.

Polling is currently underway for elections in 15 municipal corporations and 84 municipalities across Gujarat, making it one of the state’s most significant local electoral exercises this year.

As per the State Election Commission, voting commenced at 7 a.m. and will continue until 6 p.m., with polling stations witnessing steady voter turnout since morning.

The local body elections are seen as politically important, as they will determine the administrative leadership in key urban centres across Gujarat and are expected to reflect the public mood in the state.

With senior leaders leading by example at the polling booths, the administration is hoping for strong voter participation throughout the day as citizens decide the future of civic governance in their respective areas.