Manjalpur bypoll counting: BJP's Satish Patel leads Congress by 3,519 votes
Synopsis
BJP's Satish Patel opened a 3,519-vote lead over Congress veteran Bhikha Rabari in early Manjalpur bypoll counting — but the more telling number is the turnout: just 37.50%, nearly half the 60.15% seen in 2022. In a seat vacated by a multi-term BJP stalwart, voter apathy may say as much about Gujarat's political mood as the result itself.
Key Takeaways
BJP candidate Satish Patel led by 3,519 votes in early counting for the Manjalpur Assembly by-election on 3 August .
Patel had secured 6,287 votes against Congress candidate Bhikha Rabari 's 2,768 votes as of 9 am .
Polling on 30 July recorded a turnout of 37.50% , well below the 60.15% seen in the 2022 Gujarat Assembly election .
The by-election was necessitated by the death of veteran BJP MLA and former minister Yogesh Patel .
Counting is being held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Makarpura, Vadodara ; the official result is pending completion of all rounds.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Satish Patel surged ahead in the early rounds of counting for the Manjalpur Assembly by-election on 3 August, leading Congress rival Bhikha Rabari by 3,519 votes as of 9 am. The vote-counting is being conducted at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Makarpura in Vadodara, under security arrangements overseen by election authorities.
Early Vote Tally
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Satish Patel had accumulated 6,287 votes against Congress candidate Bhikha Rabari's 2,768 votes in the initial rounds. The BJP candidate's advantage, while significant, is expected to shift as further counting rounds are completed. Officials confirmed that the final result will be declared only after all rounds conclude.
Why the By-Election Was Called
The Manjalpur seat fell vacant following the death of veteran BJP legislator and former state minister Yogesh Patel, who had represented the constituency across multiple terms. His passing triggered the by-poll, making this contest also a measure of voter sentiment toward the BJP's chosen successor.
Polling Day: Low Turnout, Largely Peaceful
Voting was held on 30 July and concluded without major incident. The final voter turnout stood at 37.50 per cent — a sharp drop from the 60.15 per cent recorded during the 2022 Gujarat Assembly election. A total of 2,19,494 electors were eligible to vote across 260 polling stations, all of which operated under 100 per cent webcasting and CCTV surveillance.
A brief confrontation was reported outside a polling station at Panchsheel Vidyalaya, where BJP and Congress workers traded allegations over an alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct. Police intervened, dispersed the gathering, and confirmed that polling continued without interruption. No other law-and-order incidents were reported in the constituency.
The Candidates
Satish Patel brings organisational experience to the contest — he is a former Vadodara Municipal Corporation councillor and ex-president of the BJP Vadodara district unit. His Congress opponent, Bhikha Rabari, is the party's Gujarat vice-president and a former state minister, making this a high-profile face-off between two established political figures.
What Comes Next
Counting is ongoing, and trends are subject to change as additional rounds are tallied. The Election Commission is expected to declare the official result once all rounds are complete. The outcome will be closely watched as a barometer of BJP's hold over urban Vadodara and Congress's ability to mount a credible challenge in Gujarat ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
But a low-turnout by-election win carries limited mandate weight. For Congress, Bhikha Rabari — a former minister and state vice-president — was arguably the strongest available candidate; if the gap holds, the party must reckon with its continued inability to convert Gujarat urban ground into votes. The seat's outcome will also be read as a signal for how the BJP manages succession in stronghold constituencies where legacy MLAs leave large shoes.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leading in the Manjalpur bypoll counting?
BJP candidate Satish Patel was leading with 6,287 votes against Congress candidate Bhikha Rabari's 2,768 votes as of 9 am on 3 August, a margin of 3,519 votes in the early rounds. Counting is still ongoing and the final result is yet to be declared.
Why was the Manjalpur Assembly by-election held?
The by-election was necessitated by the death of veteran BJP MLA and former Gujarat state minister Yogesh Patel, who had represented the Manjalpur constituency for multiple terms. His passing left the seat vacant, triggering the by-poll.
What was the voter turnout in the Manjalpur bypoll?
The final voter turnout on polling day, 30 July, was 37.50% — significantly lower than the 60.15% recorded in the 2022 Gujarat Assembly election. A total of 2,19,494 electors were eligible to vote across 260 polling stations.
Who are the main candidates in the Manjalpur by-election?
The principal contest is between BJP's Satish Patel, a former Vadodara Municipal Corporation councillor and ex-BJP Vadodara district president, and Congress's Bhikha Rabari, the party's Gujarat vice-president and a former state minister.
Where is the Manjalpur bypoll counting taking place?
Counting is being conducted at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Makarpura in Vadodara, under security arrangements put in place by election authorities, including surveillance measures consistent with Election Commission guidelines.
