Rajkot/Ahmedabad: An average 38 per cent voting was recorded in the first five hours of polling across 87 seats in the first phase of Gujarat polls which will decide the fate of state political big-wigs like Keshubhai Patel, BJP’s R C Faldu and Congress’ Arjun Modhwadia.
“An average 38 per cent polling has been recorded til
l 1 PM,” Additional Chief Electoral officer Ashok Manek said.
Till 11 AM, voter turn out on the 87 constituencies was a moderate 18 per cent, but in the following two hours, it increased to 38 per cent.
Even after noon, long queues were seen outside many polling booths as people were still coming to exercise their franchise.
In places like Kutiyana where Kandhal Jadeja, son of ‘God Mother’ Santokhben, is contesting on Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ticket, 36 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 11 AM and officials were expecting a higher percentage of voting.
There were reports from some polling booths in Viramgam constituency, Sanand and Surat of malfunctioning of EVMs. Many people also complained that their names were missing from the electoral rolls.
The constituencies where polling started include 48 in seven districts of Saurashtra, 35 seats in seven districts of south Gujarat and four seats in Ahmedabad district.
Famous temple town constituency of Somnath recorded 50 per cent of voting till 1 PM, whereas high voting was recorded in Bhavngar-Rural seat where Leader of Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil is pitted against state fisheries minister Purshottam Solanki.
There were reports of high turnout from Navsari (48.20 per cent), Jalalpore (45.95) and Manavadar(47) constituencies.
Leaders like Keshubhai Patel, BJP state unit president R C Faldu, finance minister Vajubhai Vala and Congress president Arjun Modhvadia cast their vote early morning.
A total of 846 candidates are in fray. For this phase, BJP has fielded candidates on all 87 seats going to the poll, whereas Congress is contesting on 84 and Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) on 83 seats.
A total of 48 seats in Surendranagar, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Amreli and Bhavngar are considered crucial as political observers are keenly watching on how former Chief Minister and bete noire of Modi, Keshubhai Patel factor plays out in the region.
Fate of many state political heavyweights, who are contesting elections like Keshubhai Patel, Assembly Speaker Ganpat Vasava, Faldu, Modhwadia and Shaktisinh Gohil will be decided today.
The Election Commission has made robust security arrangements to ensure that voting is carried out peacefully by deploying security forces in the areas going to polls in first phase.
Out of total 1,81,77,953 voters, there are 95,75,278 men, 86,02,557 women and 118 other voters who are likely to use their franchise.
EC has set up 21,261 polling stations and will use the same number of EVMs in the first phase polls.a
