BJP's Satish Patel Triumphs in Gujarat's Manjalpur By-Election

In a decisive victory, BJP candidate Satish Patel has won the Manjalpur Assembly by-election in Gujarat, defeating Congress's Bhikha Rabari by a margin of over 30,000 votes. This win reinforces the BJP's dominance in Vadodara, following the passing of veteran MLA Yogesh Patel. Patel's early lead in the counting process set the tone for his eventual triumph. The by-election, which saw a voter turnout of 37.50%, was marked by a peaceful polling day despite minor skirmishes. With this win, Patel steps into the role previously held by Yogesh Patel, continuing the BJP's legacy in the constituency.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 3, 2026, 16:50 IST

BJP Secures Victory in Manjalpur Assembly By-Election

File image of BJP candidate Satendrabhai Patel(Photo: X)

Vadodara, Aug 3: In a significant win for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), candidate Satish Patel emerged victorious in the Manjalpur Assembly by-election in Gujarat, securing 55,481 votes. His opponent, Congress candidate Bhikha Rabari, garnered 24,851 votes, resulting in a decisive margin of 30,630 votes.

The final tally, confirmed after 20 rounds of counting, reinforces the BJP's stronghold in Vadodara. Counting commenced early in the day at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Makarpura, where Patel quickly established a lead. By 9 a.m., he was ahead by 3,519 votes, and after 11 rounds, his lead expanded to 19,368 votes.

Patel's advantage continued to grow throughout the counting process, leading to his formal declaration as the winner.

This by-election was called following the passing of long-serving BJP MLA and former state minister Yogesh Patel, who had held the Manjalpur seat since its inception in 2008, having previously won five consecutive elections from the Raopura constituency, totaling eight terms in over three decades of political service.

Satish Patel's nomination was notable, as the BJP's choice of candidate was unexpected. A seasoned party organizer from Vadodara's Chhani area, he has previously served as a councillor in the Vadodara Municipal Corporation, chaired the civic body's Standing Committee, and led the Vadodara district BJP unit. His experience also extends to the cooperative sector, where he has held significant positions.

On the other hand, Bhikha Rabari, his Congress rival, is the vice-president of the Gujarat Congress and has served as a minister in the Madhavsinh Solanki government.

The by-election polling took place on July 30 and was largely peaceful, despite a minor clash between BJP and Congress supporters outside a polling station. The constituency recorded a voter turnout of 37.50%, significantly lower than the 60.15% seen during the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections.

Over 219,000 voters were eligible to participate across 260 polling stations, where the Election Commission implemented comprehensive measures including webcasting and CCTV surveillance to facilitate the voting process.

With this victory, the BJP maintains its hold on the Manjalpur seat, with Satish Patel succeeding the late Yogesh Patel in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly.