Ahmedabad, Mar 16 (PTI) The Other Backward Class (OBC) vote, combined with the Patidar dominance, shapes electoral politics in the Umreth assembly constituency in Anand district of Gujarat, where a bypoll is scheduled on April 23.
The constituency had been won by four different parties, including the Congress and BJP, since 1972, with the saffron party retaining the seat in two consecutive elections in the past.
The OBC vote is significant, especially the Koli and Thakor communities, which dominate several pockets.
The seat fell vacant following the death of sitting BJP MLA Govind Parmar early this month.
The Umreth segment is part of the Anand Lok Sabha constituency.
Parmar, a four-time MLA, won assembly elections in 1995, 1998, 2017 and 2022.
He first entered the assembly 30 years ago as an independent MLA from the Sarsa seat in Anand district. Parmar retained the constituency in the 1998 assembly elections, contesting on a Congress ticket.
He shifted to the BJP after losing subsequent elections.
The Sarsa seat was merged into the Umreth assembly constituency in 2008. In the 2012 elections, Parmar faced defeat. He won the seat in the 2017 and 2022 elections on a BJP ticket.
In 2022, Parmar defeated his nearest rival, Jayantbhai Patel Boskey of NCP.
The notification for the byelection will be published on March 30, and nomination papers can be filed by April 6. The last day for withdrawal of nominations is April 9, as per the poll schedule announced by the Election Commission.
Votes will be counted on May 4. PTI KA NSK GK
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