Amid growing complaints of missing names in voters list, slow voting is under way in the six municipal corporation polls in Gujarat. Till 11 a.m., only 10 % voting took place, suggesting that the overall turnout may not cross 45%.
In the morning, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah and party patriarch L.K. Advani exercised their franchise in Ahmedabad. Mr. Advani even praised the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying “the government is in the direction to achhe din .”
Meanwhile, Patidars have complained that their names are missing from the voters list, alleging that the Election Commission deleted their names in the instance of the ruling establishment.
Patidars see conspiracy
“In Patel-dominated pockets like Ghatlodia, Bapunagar, Lambha and many other areas, names of Patel voters are missing or deleted from the list. This is a conspiracy to deprive the Patidar community of a chance to vote,” said Varun Patel, spokesperson of the Sardar Patel Group (SPG).
Six municipal polls are in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar. A total of 9.5 million voters will decide the future of 1,856 candidates who are in the fray from 143 wards each having four candidates.
Presently, the BJP is in power in all the six civic bodies that are going for the polls.
50 p.c. of candidates women
For the first time, 50 per cent candidates are women. This is as per the women reservation in local self-government institutions like civic bodies and panchayats.
The second phase of the local polls is scheduled on November 29 when 31 district panchayats, 56 municipalities and 230 taluka or block panchayats will go for voting.
Precursor to assembly polls?
The local elections are seen as precursor to the assembly polls due in December 2017.
The polls will also test the popularity to Ms. Anandiben Patel, who succeeded Mr. Modi as Chief Minister in May 2014 following the parliamentary polls.
