Rajkot: The byelection to the Visavadar assembly seat in Junagadh district was conducted peacefully on Thursday, with voters turning out in high numbers despite this being a mid-term poll. Counting will be on June 23.A highlight of the election was the ‘green booths’— special polling stations decorated with mango and asopalav leaves — which drew attention and raised enthusiasm among the electorate. Voters at these booths were gifted saplings to promote environmental awareness.Voting was held at 294 booths, with the election commission implementing a new arrangement, making voters deposit their mobile phones outside the polling booth.According to early data, a voter turnout of 28% was recorded in the first four hours, while by 5pm the turnout reached 54%, which is considered encouraging for a byelection. In the 2022 assembly election, turnout in the Visavadar constituency was 56.59%.The enthusiasm among voters spanned generations. Eighty-year-old Vinu Bhatti, who voted at a polling station in Visavadar town, said, “It is the duty of every citizen to vote in a democracy.I try not to miss an election.”On the other hand, first-time voter Priyanshi Mangroliya shared her excitement after participating in the electoral process: “This was my first time voting. It was an exciting experience. I believe every citizen should use their right to vote.”The byelection was necessitated after Bhupat Bhayani, who had won the seat on an AAP ticket, resigned and later joined the BJP . The contest this time is triangular, with a contest expected between the BJP and the AAP, while the Congress also remains in the fray. With the stakes significant for all three major political parties, the Visavadar byelection is being watched as an indicator of the political mood in Saurashtra. This seat is considered politically sensitive, as heavyweight leaders from all parties came canvassing.