Gandhinagar, April 26 (IANS) Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Congress and its MLA Imran Khedawala over statements made during voting in the local body elections, accusing the Opposition of attempting to influence voters and communalise the electoral process.

Speaking while polling was under way, Sanghavi described the elections as the “biggest festival of democracy” and urged citizens to turn out in large numbers.

“All citizens of the state should try to ensure maximum voting in this biggest festival of democracy,” he said, adding that extensive arrangements had been made to ensure a smooth process.

His remarks came in response to Khedawala’s appeal to voters to cast their ballots against government decisions, including references to “bulldozer” actions.

“In the BJP’s 30-year rule, issues such as ‘bulldozer politics’ and discussions around the Disturbed Areas Act have been prevailing. To respond to that, your vote is important… go to the polling booths and vote for our candidates,” Khedawala said in a video.

Sanghavi alleged that such statements were part of a wider and sustained effort.

“Whether it is Imran bhai or several other parties, this conspiracy has not come out today. For the past several days, through different mediums, there have been continuous efforts to create such a situation,” he said.

He further accused Opposition leaders of attempting to steer the elections along religious lines.

“They have directly tried to take the elections somewhere towards a religion-based direction. These visuals have been seen by everyone across Gujarat,” he said, urging voters to remain vigilant and ensure that “not even a single vote is left unused”.

Polling across Gujarat was conducted on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. amid tight security and logistical arrangements.

More than 4.19 crore voters were eligible to cast their ballots across over 10,000 seats in municipal corporations, municipalities, district panchayats and taluka panchayats, making it one of the largest local electoral exercises in the state.

In Ahmedabad, voting took place for 190 seats across 48 wards, with over 38 lakh voters eligible to participate, even as temperatures hovered around 44 degrees Celsius, posing a challenge to turnout.

Authorities arranged drinking water, shaded areas and medical support at thousands of polling stations to mitigate the impact of the heat.

Sanghavi highlighted these arrangements, stating that voters could complete the process quickly.

“If a person goes anywhere to vote, they can comfortably return home within five to ten minutes. Arrangements have been made everywhere so that no one faces difficulty due to the heat,” he said, adding that contributing “10 minutes” to voting was essential to democracy.

Referring to remarks by another political candidate about intimidation and offering namaz on roads, Sanghavi reiterated his allegation that attempts were being made to polarise the electorate.

He called on voters to “understand this” and participate in large numbers in their respective areas.

On a molestation incident reported in Surat, the Deputy Chief Minister said the matter would be investigated seriously and cautioned against politicising sensitive issues.

“Such kind of politics should not happen when it is a matter concerning a daughter. A serious investigation will be conducted, and strict action will be taken,” he said.

Polling concluded in the evening, with officials indicating that the process remained largely peaceful despite isolated tensions reported elsewhere in the state.

The elections are being closely watched as a key indicator of the political mood ahead of future state and national contests, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeking to retain its dominance against challenges from the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

–IANS

mys/pgh