Counting of votes for 575 seats in six municipal corporations — Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Jamnagar — of Gujarat is underway amid heavy security and strict COVID-19 protocols.

In Jamnagar, the BJP has won 18 seats so far while Congress and BSP have won three each. Arvind Kejriwal’s AamAadmi Party (AAP) which is contesting the polls for the first time has hindered Congress’ growth in Rajkot.

Out of total 36 seats, BJP wins 29; Congress bags seven seats in Vadodara

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading in 58 seats in the elections for six municipal corporations in Gujarat, while Congress has maintained a lead in eight seats, as per initial trends. The BJP is leading Jamjodhpur, Thaltej, Vastrapur, Asarwa, Saijpur, Nava Vadaj and Navrangpura wards in the local body polls.

As per the state election commission, of the 34 seats where results have been declared in the six corporations, BJP has won 27 seats and Congress 7.

As per the state election commission, Congress wins four seats in Vadodara Municipal Commissioner

The State Election Commission (SEC) has said an average 46.08 per cent turnout was registered during voting which was held between 7 am and 6 pm on Sunday. Ahmedabad recorded the lowest turnout of 42.51 per cent, while Jamnagar saw the highest turnout of 53.38 per cent, followed by 50.72 per cent in Rajkot, 49.46 per cent in Bhavnagar, 47.84 per cent in Vadodara and 47.14 per cent in Surat.

In a video conference held on Monday, Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi directed health officers of districtsand municipal corporations to ramp up testing and implementstringent Covid protocols. In the past 10 days, there has been a 15 per cent rise in coronavirus cases across Gujarat.