<p>Ahmedabad: The State Election Commission (SEC) on Tuesday announced much awaited local body elections in Gujarat, slated to be held on February 16. </p><p>The votes will be counted on February 18 and the election process will be concluded by February 21.</p><p>The polls hold significance for the fact that it is being held after a gap of two years and for the first time, 27 per cent of the seats will be reserved for Other Backward Castes (OBCs) from the previous 10 per cent.</p><p>The polls will be held for Junagadh Municipal Corporation, 66 municipalities and three taluka panchayats. Besides, by-elections will be held for many vacant seats in municipal corporations, municipalities, district panchayats as well as taluka panchayats.</p>.Two workers die of asphyxiation inside sewage pumping station while cleaning in Gujarat.<p>In a press conference, state election commissioner S Murali Krishna told reporters elections will be held on February 16 for a total of 2,178 seats. He said that 27% of seats will be reserved for OBCs in accordance with the state government's decision in 2023. </p><p>In August 2023, the government increased the OBCs quota limit in the local bodies from existing ten percent to 27% based on recommendation from Justice Jhaveri Commission's report. The quotas for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes have not been changed. </p><p>This is also said to be the major political battle on grassroots among ruling BJP and opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party before 2027 Assembly polls. </p>
<p>Ahmedabad: The State Election Commission (SEC) on Tuesday announced much awaited local body elections in Gujarat, slated to be held on February 16. </p><p>The votes will be counted on February 18 and the election process will be concluded by February 21.</p><p>The polls hold significance for the fact that it is being held after a gap of two years and for the first time, 27 per cent of the seats will be reserved for Other Backward Castes (OBCs) from the previous 10 per cent.</p><p>The polls will be held for Junagadh Municipal Corporation, 66 municipalities and three taluka panchayats. Besides, by-elections will be held for many vacant seats in municipal corporations, municipalities, district panchayats as well as taluka panchayats.</p>.Two workers die of asphyxiation inside sewage pumping station while cleaning in Gujarat.<p>In a press conference, state election commissioner S Murali Krishna told reporters elections will be held on February 16 for a total of 2,178 seats. He said that 27% of seats will be reserved for OBCs in accordance with the state government's decision in 2023. </p><p>In August 2023, the government increased the OBCs quota limit in the local bodies from existing ten percent to 27% based on recommendation from Justice Jhaveri Commission's report. The quotas for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes have not been changed. </p><p>This is also said to be the major political battle on grassroots among ruling BJP and opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party before 2027 Assembly polls. </p>
