Surat, February 20 – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Jeetubhai Kachhad secured a decisive victory in the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) Ward No. 18 by-election held on Sunday, with results declared on Tuesday at Maharishi Astik Public High School, Godadara.
A total of 33,332 voters cast their ballots across 93 polling booths in the Limbayat-Parvat-Kumbharia backward class seat. The counting process, conducted under the supervision of District Election Officer Dr. Saurabh Pardhi and Election Officer D.D. Shah, commenced at 9 AM and concluded in seven rounds by 10:15 AM.
Kachhad emerged victorious with 17,359 votes, securing a comfortable lead of 7,086 votes over his closest rival, Sanjay Ramadhar Ramanandi of the Indian National Congress (INC), who garnered 10,273 votes. Suraj Vallabhbhai Ahir of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured 1,917 votes, while Abdul Razzaq Wazirshah Shah of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) received 2,618 votes.
Among independent candidates, Arvind Kumar Vallabhbhai Mistry managed 416 votes, and Ejaz Abdul Rahim Gharana secured 185 votes. Additionally, 564 voters opted for NOTA (None of the Above).
With the completion of the seven rounds of counting, Jeetubhai Kachhad was officially declared the winner, further strengthening BJP's hold in Surat Municipal Corporation.
