<p>Elections to six municipal corporations in Gujarat are being held on Sunday amid tight security and adherence to Covid-19 norms.</p>.<p>People started queuing up outside polling booths soon after the voting began at 7 am across various wards in the six municipal corporations in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar.</p>.<p>The voting will continue till 5 pm.</p>.<p>In the morning, elderly voters were also seen at various booths, where precautions have been taken to follow Covid-19 prevention norms, including use of masks and sanitisers and maintaining social distance.</p>.<p>Local MPs, MLAs and leaders of different political parties also arrived at various polling booths in the morning to vote.</p>.<p>Among those who cast their votes in the initial hours were BJP MP Kirit Solanki and party MLA Rakesh Shah.</p>.<p>Solanki voted at a booth in Ranip area of Ahmedabad along with his wife and family members, while Shah cast his vote at a booth in Ellisbridge area of the city.</p>.<p>Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also scheduled to cast his vote at a booth in Naranpura area of Ahmedabad.</p>.<p>Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who tested positive for coronavirus during the campaign some days back, is likely to vote in his hometown Rajkot.</p>.<p>The main contest is between the BJP, which has ruled the six corporations for last several terms, and the main opposition Congress.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/vote-for-bjp-gujarat-cms-appeal-to-people-from-hospital-bed-952749.html" target="_blank">Vote for BJP: Gujarat CM's appeal to people from hospital bed</a></strong></p>.<p>The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has claimed it would be an effective alternative to the BJP and Congress, while Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is making its debut in the local bodies polls, having fielded 21 candidates in six wards of Ahmedabad.</p>.<p>Around 32,000 policemen have been deployed for voting in 575 seats, with each ward having four corporators, officials said.</p>.<p>A total of 2,276 candidates are contesting the polls in the six municipal corporations. Besides, nine candidates are also in the fray for by-elections to two seats in the Junagadh Municipal Corporation.</p>.<p>Those contesting include 577 from the BJP, 566 from the Congress, 470 from the AAP, 91 from the NCP, 353 from other parties and 228 Independents, the officials said.</p>.<p>The municipal corporation elections are being seen as a test for Rupani as it may set the tone for the state Assembly polls due next year.</p>.<p>As per the State Election Commission, there are a total of 1.14 crore voters, including 60.60 lakh men and 54.06 lakh women.</p>.<p>Of the 11,121 polling booths, 2,255 are marked sensitive and 1,188 have been designated as very sensitive.</p>.<p>Votes will be counted on February 23.</p>.<p>On February 28, elections to 31 district and 231 taluka panchayats and 81 municipalities will also be held in the state.</p>
<p>Elections to six municipal corporations in Gujarat are being held on Sunday amid tight security and adherence to Covid-19 norms.</p>.<p>People started queuing up outside polling booths soon after the voting began at 7 am across various wards in the six municipal corporations in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar.</p>.<p>The voting will continue till 5 pm.</p>.<p>In the morning, elderly voters were also seen at various booths, where precautions have been taken to follow Covid-19 prevention norms, including use of masks and sanitisers and maintaining social distance.</p>.<p>Local MPs, MLAs and leaders of different political parties also arrived at various polling booths in the morning to vote.</p>.<p>Among those who cast their votes in the initial hours were BJP MP Kirit Solanki and party MLA Rakesh Shah.</p>.<p>Solanki voted at a booth in Ranip area of Ahmedabad along with his wife and family members, while Shah cast his vote at a booth in Ellisbridge area of the city.</p>.<p>Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also scheduled to cast his vote at a booth in Naranpura area of Ahmedabad.</p>.<p>Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who tested positive for coronavirus during the campaign some days back, is likely to vote in his hometown Rajkot.</p>.<p>The main contest is between the BJP, which has ruled the six corporations for last several terms, and the main opposition Congress.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/vote-for-bjp-gujarat-cms-appeal-to-people-from-hospital-bed-952749.html" target="_blank">Vote for BJP: Gujarat CM's appeal to people from hospital bed</a></strong></p>.<p>The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has claimed it would be an effective alternative to the BJP and Congress, while Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is making its debut in the local bodies polls, having fielded 21 candidates in six wards of Ahmedabad.</p>.<p>Around 32,000 policemen have been deployed for voting in 575 seats, with each ward having four corporators, officials said.</p>.<p>A total of 2,276 candidates are contesting the polls in the six municipal corporations. Besides, nine candidates are also in the fray for by-elections to two seats in the Junagadh Municipal Corporation.</p>.<p>Those contesting include 577 from the BJP, 566 from the Congress, 470 from the AAP, 91 from the NCP, 353 from other parties and 228 Independents, the officials said.</p>.<p>The municipal corporation elections are being seen as a test for Rupani as it may set the tone for the state Assembly polls due next year.</p>.<p>As per the State Election Commission, there are a total of 1.14 crore voters, including 60.60 lakh men and 54.06 lakh women.</p>.<p>Of the 11,121 polling booths, 2,255 are marked sensitive and 1,188 have been designated as very sensitive.</p>.<p>Votes will be counted on February 23.</p>.<p>On February 28, elections to 31 district and 231 taluka panchayats and 81 municipalities will also be held in the state.</p>