Counting of votes for the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) elections 2026 began early this morning, with initial trends indicating a strong lead for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The elections, held on February 16, saw a voter turnout of approximately 55%. As per the latest updates from the State Election Commission, the BJP is leading in 72 of the total 120 wards, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is ahead in 28 wards and the Congress in 15. Independent candidates are leading in the remaining five wards.
Key Contests and Candidates
The election witnessed high-profile contests in several wards. In Ward 12, BJP candidate Rajesh Patel is leading against AAP's Sunita Sharma by a margin of 1,200 votes. In Ward 45, Congress's Manoj Kumar is trailing behind BJP's Anita Desai. The counting process is being conducted under tight security with 200 counting centers set up across the city.
Reactions from Political Parties
BJP spokesperson Hitesh Vani expressed confidence, stating, "The people of Surat have once again reposed faith in the development agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel." AAP leader Gopal Italia claimed, "The initial trends are not final, and we expect a close fight in many wards." Congress state president Shaktisinh Gohil said, "We will analyze the results once the final tally is out."
Previous Election Performance
In the 2021 SMC elections, the BJP had won 93 seats, Congress 12, AAP 3, and others 12. This year, AAP had campaigned aggressively on issues of water supply and solid waste management, while the BJP focused on infrastructure and smart city projects.
The final results are expected by late evening. The winning party will elect the mayor and deputy mayor in the first general meeting of the new corporation.
