Gujarat EVMs Sealed in Strongrooms After Umreth Bypoll 2025
Synopsis
EVMs and VVPATs from Gujarat's Umreth Assembly bypoll are now locked in heavily guarded strongrooms under CCTV watch after a 59.04% voter turnout. The seat fell vacant after BJP MLA Govind Parmar's death in March. Counting is set for May 4 — and the result could signal the political mood in a BJP stronghold.
Key Takeaways
306 polling stations across Umreth Assembly constituency in Anand district, Gujarat conducted voting on April 24, 2025 .
All EVMs and VVPATs have been sealed in strongrooms under a two-tier armed security system with at least one platoon of armed personnel and 24/7 CCTV surveillance .
Final voter turnout was recorded at approximately 59.04 per cent out of over 2.45 lakh registered voters .
The bypoll was triggered by the death of BJP MLA Govind Parmar in March 2025 , which vacated the seat.
Gujarat CEO Sandeep Sangle confirmed that contesting candidates' representatives have been given access to a live CCTV feed to monitor strongroom security.
Vote counting is scheduled for May 4, 2025 , when the strongroom will be opened in the presence of candidates, their agents, and Election Commission-appointed Central Observers .
Gandhinagar/Anand, April 25: All Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units deployed across 306 polling stations in the Umreth Assembly constituency bypoll in Gujarat have been formally sealed and secured in designated strongrooms following the conclusion of voting on Thursday, April 24, 2025. The Election Commission's strict post-poll protocol is now in full force, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4.
Strongroom Security: What the Protocol Entails
According to Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sandeep Sangle, all polled EVMs and VVPATs were transported to strongrooms immediately after the close of voting. The transfer was conducted under videography and in the presence of contesting candidates or their authorised representatives, along with Central Observers appointed by the Election Commission of India.
The strongrooms are protected by a two-tier armed security system, with at least one full platoon of armed personnel guarding the premises round-the-clock. Continuous CCTV surveillance has been deployed, and a live CCTV feed has been made available to candidates' representatives stationed outside the inner security perimeter.
Reserve EVMs and VVPATs have been stored separately in a dedicated reserve strongroom under identical security safeguards. All contesting candidates have been formally notified in writing to depute their own representatives to monitor the security arrangements at all times until counting day.
Voter Turnout and Polling Day Overview
The Umreth Assembly bypoll recorded a final voter turnout of approximately 59.04 per cent, according to official data released after voting concluded. Turnout climbed steadily throughout the day — from roughly 25 per cent by late morning to over 54 per cent by evening before final consolidation figures were released.
Polling was described by officials as peaceful, with no major incidents reported across the constituency's 306 booths. The Umreth constituency, situated in Anand district of central Gujarat, has a registered voter base of over 2.45 lakh electors, spread across both urban and rural segments.
Why the Bypoll Was Necessitated
The bypoll was triggered by the death of sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Govind Parmar in March 2025, following which the seat was officially declared vacant. Parmar had represented the Umreth constituency in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, and his passing created a constitutional obligation to hold the bypoll within six months of the vacancy being notified.
This comes amid a broader political context in Gujarat, where the BJP has held an unbroken grip on power since 1995 — the longest uninterrupted run by any party in a single Indian state. The Umreth bypoll, while a single seat, carries symbolic weight as a test of the party's dominance in the Anand belt, a region with significant agrarian and cooperative sector influence.
Election Commission Protocols and Transparency Measures
The Election Commission's post-poll EVM storage protocol has been a subject of intense scrutiny nationally, particularly since opposition parties have repeatedly raised concerns about EVM integrity. The two-tier armed guard system, mandatory videography, and candidate representative access to CCTV feeds are all measures introduced progressively to address these concerns and build public confidence in the process.
Notably, the VVPAT system — which generates a paper slip for each vote cast — was introduced nationally after the Supreme Court's intervention in earlier years, and its storage alongside EVMs adds an additional layer of auditability. The strongroom will be unsealed only on May 4, the counting day, strictly in the presence of candidates or their authorised agents and Central Observers, under full videography.
What to Expect Next
All eyes will now turn to May 4, 2025, when votes will be counted and the result declared. Political parties, particularly the BJP — which is defending the seat — and opposition contenders will be closely monitoring the outcome. The result will offer a fresh data point on voter sentiment in Gujarat ahead of future electoral cycles.
With 2.45 lakh voters having participated at a 59.04 per cent turnout, the mandate is expected to be decisive. The Umreth result will also be watched by analysts tracking whether sympathy votes for the late MLA Govind Parmar consolidate in favour of the BJP's candidate or whether opposition forces manage to convert the emotional moment into electoral gain.
Point of View
Including live CCTV access for candidates, reflect hard-won institutional improvements born from years of EVM controversy — yet the fact that such elaborate reassurances are still necessary speaks to a deeper trust deficit in Indian electoral machinery. A 59 per cent turnout in a bypoll is notably healthy, suggesting genuine voter engagement rather than apathy. The May 4 result will be a quiet but telling indicator of whether Gujarat's political ground is shifting or holding firm.
NationPress
3 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the EVMs from the Umreth bypoll being stored?
The EVMs and VVPATs from the Umreth Assembly bypoll have been sealed and stored in designated strongrooms in Anand district, Gujarat. These strongrooms are guarded by at least one platoon of armed personnel and monitored by continuous CCTV surveillance.
What was the voter turnout in the Umreth bypoll 2025?
The Umreth Assembly bypoll recorded a voter turnout of approximately 59.04 per cent, according to official data released after voting concluded on April 24, 2025. Turnout rose steadily from around 25 per cent in the late morning to over 54 per cent by evening before final figures were consolidated.
When is the counting of votes for the Umreth bypoll?
The counting of votes for the Umreth Assembly bypoll is scheduled for May 4, 2025. The strongroom will be opened on that day in the presence of candidates or their representatives and Central Observers, under full videography.
Why was the Umreth Assembly bypoll held?
The Umreth bypoll was necessitated by the death of sitting BJP MLA Govind Parmar in March 2025, which left the seat vacant. Under Indian electoral law, a bypoll must be held within six months of a vacancy being officially notified.
Can candidates monitor EVM strongrooms after the Umreth bypoll?
Yes, all contesting candidates have been formally notified in writing to depute their representatives to monitor the strongroom security arrangements. They are permitted to remain outside the inner security perimeter and have been provided access to a live CCTV display for continuous observation.
