Gujarat voted on Thursday in the the second and final phase of Assembly elections. Polling was held in the northern and central regions, which includes two of its main cities — Ahmedabad and Vadodara. A total of 851 candidates were in the fray in 93 constituencies spread across 14 districts, where 2.22 crore people were eligible to exercise their franchise.
Prominent candidates in the polls include Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who is contesting from Mehsana against Jivabhai Patel of the Congress; half a dozen top Ministers, including junior Home Minister Pradipsinh Jadeja and Health Minister Shankar Chaudhary; Alpesh Thakor, who is contesting from Radhanpur; and Congress backed independent candidate Jignesh Mevani from Vadgam.
Here are the live updates:
6.50 p.m.: Exit polls predict a victory for the ruling BJP, giving it a clear majority. Soon after voting ended on Thursday, an exit poll gave the BJP 115 of the total 182 seats and the Congress 65. Another exit poll gave the ruling dispensation 108 seats and 74 to the Congress.
The Times Now-VMR exit poll has predicted 115 seats for the BJP, 64 for the Congress, and the rest for other parties.
The Republic-C Voter exit poll has given the BJP 108 seats and the Congress 74.
A poll on NDTV said the BJP would get 112 seats and the Congress 70.
The ABP-CSDS survey by ABP News predicted a BJP victory in 117 seats, against the Congress’ 64.
A survey by India Today’s Aaj Tak news channel also predicted that the BJP, which has been ruling Gujarat for almost 20 years, would retain power. It said the BJP would emerge as the winner in 99-113 Assembly segments in the State, while the Congress could win 68-82 seats.
A party has to win 92 seats or more to form a government in the State.
In the 2012 Assembly polls, the BJP won 115 seats, the Congress 61 and others six.
7.05 p.m.: On the Congress complaint last night, alleging violations by Mr. Modi and other BJP leaders, the EC says it sought a report from the State Chief Electoral Officer, who submitted it around noon today and is being examined. The Congress sought time today and was asked to meet at 1 p.m., but a party delegation failed to turn up, the EC informs.
On allegations of Mr. Modi's “road show”, the EC says it has received a complaint in the afternoon and is examining it. However, the EC says the submarine launch by Mumbai does not violate the model code of conduct as the does not come under MCC.
6.40 p.m. : EC puts turnout at 68.7% (provisional) in second phase to 93 Assembly seats in 14 districts of Gujarat, down from the previous polls. In total, 851 candidates contested and barring few minor incidents, polls were peaceful, says the poll panel. In the 2012 elections, the overall turnout in the State was 72%
According to the poll panel, 27,561 ballot units, 25,575 control units and same number of VVPATs were used in the second phase and EC grievance cells addressed 9,304 complaints within 24 hours. The poll panel says 120 ballot, 102 control units and 409 VVPATs were replaced due to technical glitches, no case of “wrong” transfer of votes reported. Three complaints alleging bluetooth-linked EVMs received, two by Congress in Ahmedabad, one by another candidate in Vadodara and 121 cases of paid news were reported.
A team visited on a formal complaint in Ahmedabad alleging bluetooth-linked EVMs and demonstrated that there was no such thing. The complainant from Sabarmati, candidate Jitendra Patel, made a similar allegation A team was sent, the EC says. The third came from Vadodara, where a similar allegation was made, but no formal complaint received. But, a team was sent to check and nothing was found.
5.45 p.m.: Till 4 p.m., 62.37% voting was recorded, reports our correspondent Mahesh Langa . Following are the figures: 57.56% in Ahmedabad, 63.59% in Gandhinagar, 58.47% in Chhota Udepur, 65.37% in Vadodara, 53.85% in Dahod, 64.24% in Panchmahal, 61.24% in Mahisagar, 63.07% in Kheda, 64.31% in Anand, 61.65% in Arvalli, 70.61% in Sabarkantha, 67.37% in Mahesana, 62.69% in Patan and 66.93% in Banaskantha.
ECI a BJP puppet, alleges Congress
Members of the Youth Congress and Mahila Morcha protest outside Election Commission of India office in New Delhi on Thursday. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewal alleged that the Prime Minister has violated all norms in his “roadshow” after voting in the Gujarat Assembly polls.
Members of the Youth Congress and Mahila Morcha protest outside Election Commission of India office in New Delhi on Thursday. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewal alleged that the Prime Minister has violated all norms in his “roadshow” after voting in the Gujarat Assembly polls.
3.00 p.m.: The Congress on Thursday said the Election Commission of India (ECI) was a BJP “puppet”, which had not acted against Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his “roadshow” in Gujarat.
The Prime Minister had violated the model code of conduct by holding a “roadshow” after voting in the Gujarat Assembly polls, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged.
Addressing a press conference, he said the poll panel was a “puppet and frontal organisation” of the ruling BJP as it took no action against Mr. Modi. “It is a sad day for the country as ECI has denigrated the Constitution,” he said, adding that the “CEC [Chief Election Commissioner) was acting like the Prime Minister’s PS.”
Hardik Patel votes in Viramgam
12.50 p.m.: Hardik Patel and OBC leader Alpesh Thakor, who joined the Congress and is contesting from Radhanpur, voted in Viramgam. Rebel Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela, who floated the Jan Vikalp front, voted at Vasania village in Gandhinagar constituency.
Chidambaram raps ECI for show-cause notice to Rahul
Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday asked the ECI why it picked on party president Rahul Gandhi for giving media interviews while leaving out BJP leaders who did the same thing. In a series of tweets, Mr. Chidambaram accused the poll panel of sleeping on the job and asked people in Gujarat to exercise their franchise and “change” the BJP government in the State. “Yesterday, the Prime Minister made a speech. BJP’s president gave an interview. Railway Minister gave an interview. Why have all these escaped the EC’s attention? Why pick on only Mr Rahul Gandhi’s interview?” Mr. Chidambaram said. Read more
12.35 p.m.: Sources in the ECI said the voting percentage was 39 by 12 noon.
12.30 p.m.: Around 12.39 per cent voting recorded.
Modi votes
12.15 p.m.: The Prime Minister exercised his franchise at booth number 115 in Sabarmati's Ranip locality in Ahmedabad. He flew from Mumbai after commissioning INS Kalvari. He will be returning to New Delhi the same day. After casting his vote at the Nishan High School, he showed his inked finger to thousands of supporters who had gathered outside the school amid chants of “Modi Modi“. He walked a certain distance to greet people standing on both sides of the road outside the polling booth. Later, he stood on the footboard of his car and waived to the crowd.
Arun Jaitley casts his ballot
12. 05 p.m.: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley cast his vote at a polling booth here, and appealed to the people to come out in large numbers to exercise their right to franchise. The Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat stood in queue to vote at the Chimanbhai Institute in the Vejalpur Assembly constituency, with voters eagerly taking selfies with him. “Since the last many years we have made good progress in our development journey, and I am confident that people of Gujarat will come out in large numbers to vote for development,” he said. “I would also appeal to the people to come out and exercise their franchise and continue the journey.” The BJP has fielded its MLA from the constituency Kishore Chauhan this time as well. He is fighting against Congress candidate Mihir Shah.
11.45 a.m.: Chaos at a voting centre in Ahmedabad.
11.25 a.m.: Congress State chief Bharatsinh Solanki casts his vote in polling booth no.201 in Anand.
11.00 a.m.: The first few hours of polling saw very few voters following a dip in the temperature. Ten per cent voting was recorded in two hours, an official said, adding that the process would pick up as the day progresses. Several complaints were made to the poll panel against the functioning of electronic voting machines in and around Vadodara city. At many places, polling was halted due to malfunctioning of machines.
Congress approaches ECI
10.36 a.m.: The Congress has petitioned the ECI for action against the Prime Minister for addressing an event organised by an industry body on the eve of polling where he attacked the main Opposition party.
The Congress’s complaint came soon after the ECI on Wednesday issued a show-cause notice to Rahul Gandhi for prima facie violating the model code by giving interviews to Gujarati TV channels, and asked him to reply by December 18, failing which it would decide the matter without any reference to him. A delegation of Congress leaders, comprising Ashok Gehlot, Anand Sharma and Randeep Surjewala handed over a memorandum to the poll body, demanding strong action against Mr. Modi and other BJP leaders for addressing press conferences and events on the eve of polling.
“We are going to the Election Commission with a memorandum demanding action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Union Ministers Arun Jaitley and Piyush Goyal and others for violating the model code,” Mr. Sharma told reporters before meeting the poll panel. He said the ECI should remain non-partisan.
Amit Shah appeals to people to vote
10.35 a.m.: BJP president Amit Shah after voting in a polling booth in the Naranpura area appealed to the public to come out to vote in large numbers to carry forward the “journey of development”. He came to the polling booth at the Naranpura sub-zonal office to cast his vote along with wife Sonal Shah and son Jay Shah.
BJP president Amit Shah coming out of a polling booth after casting his vote in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
“I would like to appeal to the voters to come out in large numbers to cast their vote to take ahead the journey of development,” he told reporters after coming out of the polling booth. He said the development model of Gujarat is “praised across the country“.
“I believe this tempo should be maintained, and the people should vote in large numbers to give a befitting reply to those opposing the Gujarat model,” he said. After casting his vote, the BJP chief went to the Kameshwar Shiva temple with his family members to offer prayers. Read more
Voting begins in a slow pace
10.30 a.m.: According to election officials, average voting in Ahmedabad district was 9.6 per cent in the first two hours of voting.
10.05 a.m.: "The EVM in Sankheda's Sodhaliya village in Chhota Udaipur was dysfunctional for 50 minutes. So voting was halted for that duration. We fixed the machine and now voting is underway," said Gaurang Rana, Polling Officer
9.30 a.m.: Election officials said around 7 per cent voting was recorded till 9 a.m.
Voters stand in queue to cast their ballot in the second phase of Gujarat Assembly elections in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
8.54 a.m.: The Prime Minister's mother, Heeraben, who is in her 90s, cast her vote in a polling booth in Gandhinagar. She was accompanied by her younger son, Pankaj Modi, and other family members. After casting her vote, she showed her inked finger to mediapersons outside the poll booth. “May God bless Gujarat,” she said while emerging out of the polling booth.
8.50 a.m.: A total of 25,575 polling booths have been set up in 14,523 places. The ECI has deployed hundreds of companies of the Central armed police, 12 companies of the Rapid Action Force and 19 companies of the State Reserve Police Force for the election.
8.45 a.m.: Mr. Modi and Mr. Gandhi on Thursday appealed to the voters to exercise their franchise in the polling that has begun. “The ushering in of a new Gujarat has already begun. Your one vote will strengthen and empower the foundations of democracy. I appeal to the people of the state to vote more and more for a bright tomorrow,” Mr. Gandhi tweeted.
8.25 a.m.: Former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel was among early voters. Other prominent leaders are expected to vote around 11 a.m
8.00 a.m.: Voting starts.
7.00 a.m.: Voting to start at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. The voter turnout in the first phase, held on 9 December, stood at 66.75 per cent.
