Godhra: In one of the more closely watched results from Gujarat’s local body elections, Apeksha Soni, an independent candidate, won Ward No. 7 in Godhra a constituency with an estimated 95 to 98 percent Muslim-majority electorate. She is being described as one of the first Hindu women to win from such a demographic in the city.
Soni contested on grassroots issues rather than identity politics. While she ran as an independent, some reports suggest she may have had indirect backing from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The Godhra civic polls were part of Gujarat’s statewide local body elections held on April 26, with results declared on Tuesday. Voting took place across 15 municipal corporations, 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats, and 260 taluka panchayats. Close to 10,000 seats were contested, with over 25,000 candidates in the fray.
Godhra, a city historically associated with the 2002 train burning incident, remains politically sensitive. Soni’s win has drawn attention across the state, with many interpreting it as a signal that voters in the ward prioritised local governance and development over identity-based considerations.
Elsewhere in the results, Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen also recorded gains in Gujarat, including a win in the Dindrol Taluka Panchayat seat the party’s first foothold in parts of the state.
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