75.51% voter turnout in DNH LS seat by-election Surat News – Times of India

Surat: Voting for the by-elections to the Dadra and Nagar Haveli (DNH) Lok Sabha seat was held on Saturday at 333 polling stations in the Union Territory of DNH Diu and Daman (DNHDD), which is largely tribal-dominated.
Preliminary polling data suggested that the UT had at least 75.51 per cent of the total 2.58 lakh registered voters. No untoward incident was reported during the 12 hours of polling held from 7 am to 7 pm.
“Polling was conducted peacefully and there was no unforeseen incident anywhere in the UT. The police had made strict arrangements to ensure smooth polling,” said DNH Superintendent of Police Hareshwar Swamy.
A total of 1,700 police force was deployed to ensure smooth and peaceful polling. Apart from 300 policemen of DNH Police, 10 additional companies of CAPF, four companies of Gujarat Police and one company of Daman Police have been deployed.
“Among the precautionary measures, 10 flying squads, 18 stationary surveillance teams, 10 outposts, six quick response teams, two arrest teams and two striking reserve teams were pressed into service,” Swamy told TOI.
In the last 30 days, the police have seized 6,500 liquor bottles and Rs 1 crore in cash from illegal possession.
Candidates of three major parties – BJP, Congress and Shiv Sena – were contesting the seat which fell vacant after the death of Independent MP Mohan Delkar in a Mumbai hotel in February 2021.
Delkar, who was contesting as an independent candidate in 2019, defeated Natu Patel of BJP by a margin of 9001 votes. Patel was a BJP MP for two consecutive terms since 2009. Delkar has been an MP from this seat for six consecutive terms since 1989 as he contested the elections from Congress, BJP and as an independent candidate. His father Sanjibhai was also elected MP from this seat in 1967.
Delkar’s widow Kalaben is contesting on Shiv Sena ticket and is in direct contest with BJP’s Mahesh Gavit. Mahesh Dhodi was the Congress candidate.
BJP leader Ashwini Vaishnav, Union Railway Minister and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut campaigned for their candidates. A large number of Gujarat BJP workers and leaders were camping in the Union Territory.
“I am confident that I will win the election as people will express their anger for the unexpected death of my husband. People have deep feelings for my husband,” said Kalaben.
Delkar’s son Abhinav was stopped by polling officials from taking a selfie outside the Tokarkhara polling station.
In this election, BJP workers who reached remote tribal villages and Gavit expressed confidence of victory.