In Gujarat's Godhra municipality elections 2026, the BJP secured a full majority for the first time, while Congress failed to win any seats. The most surprising result came from ward 7, where 97% of voters are Muslim, yet independent Hindu candidate Apeksha Soni emerged victorious. Local Muslims celebrated her win with a procession.
In the Godhra municipality elections, the BJP won 23 of 44 seats, with 17 going to independents and four uncontested, according to The Indian Express. Aaj Tak reported this as the BJP's first full majority here, with Congress winning zero seats.
Ward 7, with a Muslim-majority electorate where 97% of voters are Muslim as per Aaj Tak, saw independent candidate Apeksha Soni secure 2,762 votes to finish fourth. Other winners were independents Ayesha Sohail Aarif Dhantya, Sajid Sikander Kalla, and Anwar Hussain Ahmed Sujela. Neither BJP, Congress, nor AIMIM fielded candidates here. Soni is not a registered voter in the ward but received strong local support.
Soni, a homemaker whose symbol was a glass tumbler, described her win as a moment of 'great joy.' She said, 'I received strong support from people in the ward, and the mandate is a reflection of communal harmony and faith. My victory is symbolic of brotherhood and mutual respect.' She pledged to address water scarcity, drainage issues, and waste management.
Aaj Tak noted that Muslims celebrated her victory with a procession carrying her father's photo. BJP leaders congratulated her outside the counting center. The result signals voters prioritizing development and personal image over caste and religion.
