Gujarat & Maharashtra Bypolls: 40%+ Voter Turnout Recorded by 3 PM
Synopsis
Gujarat's Umreth seat led bypoll voting at 46.66% by 3 PM on April 23, while Maharashtra's Baramati and Rahuri seats recorded over 39-40% turnout. All three seats fell vacant due to sitting legislators' deaths. Results will be declared on May 4 alongside five state Assembly election outcomes.
Key Takeaways
Umreth (Gujarat) recorded the highest voter turnout at 46.66% by 3 PM on April 23 , leading all three bypoll constituencies.
Baramati and Rahuri seats in Maharashtra registered 40.36% and 39.60% voter turnout respectively by 3 PM.
All three seats fell vacant due to the deaths of sitting MLAs — Govind Parmar (Umreth), Shivaji Bhanudas Kardile (Rahuri), and Ajit Pawar (Baramati).
Bypolls are part of an eight-constituency exercise across six states announced by the Election Commission of India .
Vote counting for all bypolls is scheduled for May 4 , coinciding with results of five state Assembly elections including Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
Tamil Nadu (234 seats, single phase) and West Bengal Phase 1 (152 seats) are also polling on April 23 , with voting ending at 6 PM .
New Delhi, April 23: Bypolls across one seat in Gujarat and two seats in Maharashtra recorded a combined voter turnout exceeding 40 per cent by 3 PM on Thursday, according to official data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The polling has progressed at a steady and consistent pace throughout the day, with no major disruptions reported from any of the three Assembly constituencies.
Constituency-Wise Voter Turnout Data
The Umreth Assembly seat in Gujarat led the polling charts with 46.66 per cent voter turnout recorded by 3 PM. In Maharashtra, the Baramati seat clocked 40.36 per cent polling, while the Rahuri seat registered 39.60 per cent voting by the same time. Earlier in the day, at 11 AM, Umreth had recorded approximately 26 per cent polling, while both Maharashtra seats hovered around 20 per cent each.
The voting pattern remained largely stable across all three constituencies since Thursday morning, indicating a gradual but consistent voter participation trend rather than any surge or dip in turnout.
Why These Seats Fell Vacant
All three Assembly seats went to bypoll due to the untimely death of sitting legislators. In Maharashtra, the Rahuri seat fell vacant following the demise of Shivaji Bhanudas Kardile, while the Baramati seat became vacant after the death of legislator Ajit Pawar. In Gujarat, the Umreth constituency was vacated after the passing of incumbent legislator Govind Parmar.
Part of Larger Eight-Seat Bypoll Exercise
The Election Commission of India had announced bypolls for eight Assembly constituencies across six states — Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura. The constituencies in Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, and Tripura had already gone to polls on April 9, while Gujarat and Maharashtra are voting on Thursday, April 23.
Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Also Polling Today
Alongside the bypolls, voting is simultaneously underway for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and the first phase of West Bengal Assembly elections on Thursday. Polling in both states is scheduled to conclude by 6 PM. Tamil Nadu's 234 Assembly constituencies are voting in a single phase, while West Bengal's elections are spread over two phases — the first phase covering 152 constituencies and the second phase covering 142 seats.
Vote Counting Date and Results
The counting of votes for all bypolls is scheduled for May 4. Significantly, this is the same date when results for Assembly elections in five states and Union Territories — Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry — will also be declared, making it a major political verdict day for the entire nation.
With voting set to conclude by evening, all eyes will now turn to May 4, when the political fate of candidates in Gujarat and Maharashtra's three bypoll seats will be decided alongside historic state election results.
Point of View
The political stakes are unusually high. The consistent polling pace — rather than any dramatic surge — suggests voter engagement driven by local candidate dynamics rather than larger political mobilisation.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the voter turnout in Gujarat and Maharashtra bypolls by 3 PM?
By 3 PM on April 23, the Umreth seat in Gujarat recorded 46.66% voter turnout, while Baramati and Rahuri seats in Maharashtra registered 40.36% and 39.60% respectively. The polling progressed steadily throughout the day.
Why were bypolls held in Umreth, Baramati, and Rahuri?
All three Assembly seats fell vacant due to the deaths of sitting legislators. Govind Parmar's death vacated Umreth in Gujarat, while Shivaji Bhanudas Kardile and Ajit Pawar's demise led to bypolls in Rahuri and Baramati in Maharashtra.
When will the bypoll results for Gujarat and Maharashtra be declared?
The counting of votes for all bypolls, including Gujarat and Maharashtra, is scheduled for May 4. This is also the same day when Assembly election results for Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry will be announced.
How many states are holding bypolls in this round?
The Election Commission of India announced bypolls for eight Assembly constituencies across six states — Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura. Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, and Tripura voted on April 9, while Gujarat and Maharashtra voted on April 23.
Which other elections are taking place alongside the Gujarat and Maharashtra bypolls?
Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across all 234 constituencies and the first phase of West Bengal Assembly elections covering 152 seats are being held on the same day, April 23. Polling in both states is set to end by 6 PM.
