The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) elections, conducted after a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, witnessed a notable increase in voter turnout even as the total number of voters declined sharply due to deletions from the list.
Voter Turnout and Electorate Details
The provisional voter turnout reached 59.32%, nearly 12% higher than the 47.14% recorded in the 2021 elections. However, the electorate size shrank to 14.68 lakh in 2026, down from 15.50 lakh previously.
By 9 pm, the Anjana-Dumbhal ward recorded the highest turnout at 73.23%, while Adajan-Pal-Ichhapore saw the lowest at 51.36%. Other strong performances included Limbayat-Udhna Yard at 69.98%, Limbayat-Parvat-Kumbhariya at 66.70%, Kansad-Sachin-Un-Abhva at 65.33%, and Vadi Faliya-Salabatpura at 66.53%.
Out of 24.76 lakh registered voters, 14.68 lakh cast their ballots to elect 483 candidates for 120 seats across 30 wards. Among them, 8.17 lakh were male voters and 6.51 lakh were female voters.
Inspiring Stories of Civic Participation
The election day featured several emotional and inspiring moments. Umesh Mishra, a kidney patient undergoing treatment at Kiran Hospital, was brought to the polling station in an ICU-equipped ambulance under medical supervision shortly after being taken off ventilator support to cast his vote. In another instance, Sachin Vanzwala from Vanz village voted in traditional wedding attire before heading to his marriage ceremony, demonstrating the spirit of participation despite personal commitments.
Prominent Leaders Cast Votes
Union Minister CR Patil voted near his residence in Bhatar, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi cast his vote at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Icchhanath, and Cabinet Minister Praful Panseriya voted at a booth in Ward-2.
Bogus Voting Complaints
A couple, Nikunj Vaghasiya and Amisha Vaghasiya, alleged that their votes were cast by others at booth-24 of Ward-4. They claimed that when they reached the booth, the presiding officer informed them that their votes had already been polled, and they were denied permission to vote. In Ward-5, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also raised complaints of bogus voting. Additionally, in Adajan, an AAP female candidate was involved in a heated exchange with a BJP worker over alleged violation of the model code of conduct.
Scuffles Reported in Ankleshwar and Navsari
In the Ankleshwar municipality polls, Congress leader Mumtaz Patel faced a confrontation with BJP Ward-8 candidate Shahida. A video of the incident went viral, showing Shahida alleging that Congress leaders have done injustice to poor people from the minority community. In the Navsari Municipal Corporation elections, Ward-13 Congress candidate Pramod Rathod alleged that he was slapped by the father-in-law of a BJP candidate. Rathod later approached the police station seeking action in the matter.
