Gujarat bypoll: BJP's Harshad Parmar leads Umreth by 22,937 votes
Synopsis
BJP's Harshad Parmar, son of the late four-term MLA Govind Parmar, is leading the Umreth bypoll by over 22,000 votes after 16 counting rounds — a strong early signal that the BJP's family-candidate gamble in a sympathy-vote contest is paying off, even as Congress veteran Chauhan fights to close the gap.
Key Takeaways
Harshad Parmar (BJP) leads the Umreth Assembly bypoll with 61,417 votes after 16 rounds of counting on 4 May 2025 .
His margin over Congress rival Bhrugurajsinh Chauhan (38,480 votes) stands at 22,937 votes .
The bypoll was triggered by the death of sitting MLA Govind Parmar , a four-term BJP legislator who won the seat in 2022 .
Voter turnout on polling day ( 23 April ) was just over 59 per cent across more than 300 polling stations .
AAP did not field a candidate, making the contest a straight BJP-Congress fight among six total candidates .
Counting is also underway for bypolls in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tripura , and Nagaland — 7 seats across 5 states in total.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Harshad Parmar is surging ahead in the Umreth Assembly by-election in Gujarat's Anand district, leading rival Bhrugurajsinh Chauhan of the Indian National Congress (Congress) by 22,937 votes after 16 rounds of counting on Monday, 4 May. The by-election result is being closely tracked as part of a wider bypoll exercise spanning five states.
Latest Counting Figures
After 16 rounds of vote counting, Parmar had accumulated 61,417 votes against Chauhan's 38,480, reflecting a commanding margin. Counting commenced at 8 am at the BJVM College campus in Vallabh Vidyanagar under tight security. A total of six candidates are in the fray, though the contest has remained effectively bipolar between the BJP and the Congress.
Why the Umreth Seat Fell Vacant
The bypoll was necessitated by the death of sitting BJP legislator Govind Parmar, a four-term MLA who had retained the Umreth seat in the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections. His son, Harshad Parmar, is contesting his first major electoral battle and had received visible campaign backing from senior BJP leaders. The constituency recorded a voter turnout of just over 59 per cent across more than 300 polling stations when voting was held on 23 April.
Who Are the Key Candidates
Harshad Parmar brings prior experience in local governance roles, though this is his debut at the Assembly level. His Congress opponent, Chauhan, is a seasoned politician who has served three terms as president of the Umreth taluka panchayat and currently holds a key organisational position in the party's central zone in Gujarat. Notably, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chose not to field a candidate, leaving the contest largely as a straight BJP-Congress fight.
Broader Bypoll Context
The Umreth counting is taking place alongside bypolls in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tripura, and Nagaland, with a total of seven Assembly constituencies across five states going to bypolls in this round. Results across all constituencies are expected later in the day. The Umreth outcome will be read as a signal of the BJP's continued hold over Anand district, one of 182 constituencies in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, and of the Congress's ability to mount a credible challenge in a seat it has historically struggled to win.
What to Watch
With counting still in progress, the final margin will determine whether the BJP consolidates its grip on a seat it has held for multiple terms or faces a tighter-than-expected contest. The result will also feed into the broader narrative around the Congress's organisational strength in central Gujarat ahead of future state-level elections.
Point of View
Counts on emotional continuity, and largely sidesteps a policy debate. That the BJP's lead is already above 22,000 votes suggests the formula is working — but the real story is what it reveals about the Congress's structural weakness in Anand district. Chauhan is no pushover; three terms as taluka panchayat president and a central zone organisational role make him a credible candidate. Yet he is trailing by a wide margin, which raises questions about whether the Congress has the grassroots machinery in central Gujarat to convert organisational presence into votes. With AAP absent, there is no third-force pressure on the BJP — a dynamic that may flatter the winning margin but obscures the underlying competitiveness of the seat.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leading the Umreth Assembly bypoll in Gujarat?
BJP candidate Harshad Parmar is leading the Umreth bypoll with 61,417 votes after 16 rounds of counting, ahead of Congress rival Bhrugurajsinh Chauhan who has 38,480 votes. The margin stands at 22,937 votes as of the latest figures on 4 May 2025.
Why was the Umreth bypoll held?
The Umreth bypoll was held following the death of sitting BJP MLA Govind Parmar, a four-term legislator who had last won the seat in the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections. Voting took place on 23 April 2025.
Who is Harshad Parmar?
Harshad Parmar is the son of the late BJP MLA Govind Parmar and is contesting his first major election from the Umreth constituency. He has previously served in local governance roles and received campaign support from senior BJP leaders.
Did AAP contest the Umreth bypoll?
No, the Aam Aadmi Party chose not to field a candidate in the Umreth bypoll, leaving the contest as a predominantly bipolar fight between the BJP and the Congress among six total candidates.
Which other states are holding bypolls alongside Gujarat?
Bypolls are being held simultaneously in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tripura, and Nagaland, with a total of seven Assembly constituencies across five states going to polls in this round. Results are expected on 4 May 2025.
