Vadodara, July 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A brief clash broke out between workers of the BJP and the Congress outside a polling station in Gujarat’s Manjalpur Assembly constituency on Thursday after the Congress alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during polling for the Assembly by-election.
The incident occurred outside Panchsheel Vidyalaya near the Vaishnodevi Society gate, where voting continued uninterrupted despite the confrontation.
The Congress alleged that BJP workers were wearing party scarves, beating drums and escorting voters to polling booths, amounting to election campaigning in the vicinity of the polling station in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Vadodara Congress spokesperson Nishant Raval said the party had lodged a formal complaint with the election authorities.
“BJP leaders are openly campaigning in the Manjalpur Assembly constituency. We are reaching the Collector’s office to submit a representation regarding the violation of the Model Code of Conduct,” he said.
According to local accounts, BJP workers maintained they were only conducting a voter awareness campaign. Congress workers objected to their presence near the polling station, leading to a heated verbal exchange that briefly escalated into a physical scuffle.
The BJP, in turn, alleged that Congress workers had assaulted its supporters and attempted to capture the polling booth. The Congress denied the allegation.
Manjalpur Police Station Inspector Kirit Chaudhary said the situation was quickly brought under control and polling was not affected.
He said the clash involved around 10 to 12 workers from both parties and confirmed that no one had been detained. Police have launched an investigation into the incident.
The by-election in the Manjalpur Assembly constituency was necessitated by the death of veteran BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Yogesh Patel.
The contest is between BJP candidate Satish Patel and Congress nominee Bhikha Rabari.
According to the Election Commission of India, voter turnout in the constituency stood at 21.66 per cent till 2 p.m., with polling proceeding peacefully in the rest of the constituency.
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