BJP and Congress Field Candidates for Manjalpur Assembly By-Election

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress have officially entered the race for the Manjalpur Assembly by-election in Vadodara, Gujarat. The seat became vacant following the death of eight-time BJP MLA Yogesh Patel on June 2, 2026. On July 13, BJP candidate Satish Patel and Congress candidate Bhikhabhai Rabari filed their nomination papers at the Vadodara Collector's Office.

Satish Patel, a former municipal councillor, has pledged to fulfill the unfinished vision and development goals of the late Yogesh Patel. During the campaign launch, which included a 'Vijay Vishwas Bike Rally', Gujarat BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma framed the contest as a tribute to the former MLA and a vote of faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Bhikhabhai Rabari, a former state minister and vice-president of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, has centered his campaign on civic failure. He criticized the BJP government for corruption and neglected infrastructure, specifically citing contaminated drinking water, poor roads, and drainage issues in Manjalpur.

Seven candidates filed a total of 15 nomination papers by the July 13 deadline, including representatives from the Right to Recall Party and independent candidates. The Election Commission of India has scheduled polling for July 30, with vote counting to take place on August 3.