More than 2.5 crore people were eligible to vote in Phase II of the Assembly elections in Gujarat. Under the second phase, voting was held for 93 seats in 14 districts, including Ahmedabad and Vadodara, across north and central regions on Monday.
There were 833 candidates in the fray, including high-profile candidates such as Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel from Ghatlodia in Ahmedabad. Several other heavyweights such as OBC leader Alpesh Thakor, Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel, Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani were in the fray in the last round of polling in the Assembly polls.
The Election Commission set up 26,409 booths and nearly 36,000 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were engaged. Around 29,000 presiding officers and over 84,000 polling officers had been deployed in 14 districts to facilitate the polling process.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel voted from Ahmedabad at different booths.
Votes will be counted on December 8, the same day as that of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls.
The first phase of voting for 89 seats in Saurashtra, Kutch and south Gujarat was held on December 1 with an average turnout of 63.31%, lower than the last time’s 67.79%.
Earlier, on December 4, 2022 late night, Congress sitting MLA Kanti Kharadi from ST reserved Danta seat in Banaskantha district in North Gujarat, has allegedly been attacked. The party accused BJP of attacking Mr. Kharadi ahead of voting in the seat.
Two party leaders including Rahul Gandhi have tweeted condemning the alleged attack on Mr. Kharadi while questioning the ECI’s silence.
Here are the latest updates:
Voting turnout low in Phase II
Voting in Gujarat’s second phase remained low. The average turnout stood at 58.7% from 93 assembly seats in Gujarat. The figure is likely to change. – Mahesh Langa
Congress will come to power with majority: Bharat Solanki
Congress leader Bharat Solanki on Monday claimed that the party has received massive support during the first phase of polling in Gujarat. “Congress received massive support in Saurashtra and south Gujarat in phase 1,” Bharat Solanki said. “On the coming December 8, Congress will come to power with a majority,” he asserted. – ANI
Patients, centenarians persons come out to vote in Gujarat Assembly polls
Bed-ridden people, patients on oxygen support, senior citizens including centenarians, and transgender persons were among those who came out to vote in the Gujarat Assembly elections on Monday, reports PTI.
Physically challenged Ankit Soni, who was born without arms, took everyone by surprise as he used his toes to sign a form at the polling booth and push the button on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in Nadiad town of Kheda district.
Many citizens above the age of 100 went to their respective polling booths to cast vote in different parts of the state.
In a tweet, Gujarat’s Chief Electoral Officer P Bharathi praised 110-year-old Shantaben Thakor, who exercised her franchise in Vijapur town of Mehsana district. – PTI
Voter turnout crosses 50% by 3 p.m.
An average 50.51% voter turnout was recorded till 3 p.m. across 14 districts of north and central regions, the Election Commission said.
PM Modi conducted roadshow on polling day, will appeal to EC: Congress
“On polling day, PM Modi did a roadshow of two and a half hours while he went to cast his vote. We will appeal to the EC against it. It seems like the Election Commission is willingly under pressure,” said Congress Spokesperson Pawan Khera
AAP CM candidate Gadhvi casts vote
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi cast his vote in Ahmedabad in the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections and said that he expects his party to win over 100 seats.
“I appeal to people to step out and go to polling stations and vote. Choose whoever you want but you will be able to demand answers from political leaders only if you vote. I expect AAP to win 51 plus out of 89 seats in the first phase and 52 plus seats in the second phase,” he said. – ANI
34.74% voting till 1 p.m. in Gujarat
Voter turnout was recorded at 34.74% till 1 p.m. in the second phase of Gujarat Assembly elections. — The Hindu
PM Modi’s brother casts his vote, gets emotional as he talks about the Prime Minister
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s elder brother Somabhai Modi cast his vote in Ahmedabad on Monday in the second phase of the Assembly elections.
Somabhai Modi cast his vote at Nishan Public school, Ranip in Ahmedabad, the same polling booth where PM Modi had voted.
Somabhai got emotional as he talked about the Prime Minister who visited him earlier today.— ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother casts vote
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother Hiraba cast her vote at a polling booth in Raysan village near Gandhinagar city on Monday during the second phase of polling for Gujarat Assembly elections.
The PM’s mother, who entered her 100th year in June, lives with her younger son Pankaj Modi in Raysan village near Gandhinagar city.
She reached the polling booth in a wheelchair with the help of Pankaj Modi and other family members and exercised her franchise.— PTI
19.17% voter turnout recorded till 11 a.m.
After a dull start, voting in the second phase of Assembly elections in Gujarat picked up towards noon. Voter turnout was recorded at 19.17% till 11 a.m.— The Hindu
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel casts vote, says BJP will break all its old records in elections
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting his vote in Ahmedabad on December 5, 2022.
| Photo Credit:
PTI
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel cast his vote in the ongoing second phase of the state Assembly elections and said that the BJP would break all its old records in the state and emerge victorious.
The Chief Minister cast his vote in the Shilaj Anupam School, booth number 95 in Ahmedabad.
After casting his vote, speaking to the reporters here, Patel said, “Today, the second phase of the Gujarat elections is taking place, and everyone is participating in it in a peaceful way. BJP will break its all old records and will be victorious in this election.”— ANI
Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel votes in Ahmedabad
Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel cast her vote for the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly Polls on Monday. The former Gujarat chief minister cast her vote at Polling Booth 95, Shilaj Anupam School.
Amit Shah casts vote in Ahmedabad, urges first-time voters to participate in elections
Union Home Minister Amit Shah shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting his vote at Naranpura area in Ahmedabad on December 5, 2022.
| Photo Credit:
PTI
Union Home Minister Amit Shah cast his vote in the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly polls on Monday and appealed to the people, especially first-time voters, to participate in elections.
Mr. Shah along with members of his family, including his son BCCI secretary Jay Shah, cast his vote at the AMC Sub-Zonal Office in Naranpura of Ahmedabad.
Amit Shah and his family also offered prayers at a temple in Ahmedabad after casting their vote.
“I appeal to everyone to vote, especially the first-time voters – the young girls and boys should vote,” Shah said while speaking to the media here.— ANI
Delhi LG casts vote in Ahmedabad, appeals people to vote in large numbers to strengthen democracy
“It’s a festival of democracy. Everyone should exercise their franchise. I too voted today. I appeal to everyone to step out in large numbers, vote and strengthen democracy. The people of Gujarat are smart and they have always voted thoughtfully. They will do the same this time too,” Mr. Kumar told ANI.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and his wife Sangita Saxena cast their votes for the second phase of Gujarat Assembly Polls on Monday in Ahmedabad.— ANI
Voter turnout at 4.75% till 9 a.m., Gandhinagar highest with over 7%
Voter turnout in the second phase of Assembly elections in Gujarat was at 4.75% till 9 a.m., with Gandhinagar having the highest polling with 7%. The voter turnout is expected to pick up during the day.— ANI
PM Modi to inaugurate key BJP meet as party eyes next round of polls
As Gujarat votes in the second and final phase of the assembly polls on Monday, a key two-day meeting of BJP leaders will begin here to review the party’s preparations and chalk out its strategy for the next round of elections in states and the all-important Lok Sabha contest in 2024.
The party said in a statement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the BJP’s national office-bearers’ meeting in the afternoon at the party headquarters here.
Besides them, presidents and general secretaries (organisation) of the party’s state units will also attend the meeting, as is the practice.— PTI
BJP using police, govt machinery to influence polling, alleges Gujarat Congress chief
Gujarat Congress chief Jagdish Thakor on Monday alleged election malpractices by the ruling BJP in the ongoing Assembly elections and said that the party is “influencing the polling” with the “help of police and government machinery”.
Alleging an attack on Congress candidate Kanti Kharadi, the party Gujarat chief said that the party is receiving similar complaints from other candidates also.
“Congress is winning. Our candidate Kanti Kharadi was attacked last night and was untraceable for 3 hrs. We called up EC, reached Gandhinagar at 1.30 am and called them to come there. Complaints by our other candidates are also coming,” he alleged while speaking to ANI.
He also alleged an “atmosphere of fear” in the State and said that it shows the “BJP is losing”.— ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi casts vote in Ahmedabad
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shows his inked finger after casting his vote in Ahmedabad on December 05, 2022.
| Photo Credit:
Vijay Soneji
Prime Minister Narendra Modi cast his vote in the second phase of Assembly elections in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad on Monday.
PM Modi exercised his franchise at Nishan Public School, Ranip in Ahmedabad. Earlier, he left from Gandhinagar Raj Bhawan to cast his vote.
PM Modi also greeted people on his way to the school ahead of casting his vote. At the polling booth, he stood in the queue waiting for his turn to vote. — ANI
BJP has maintained law and order in Gujarat, want Gujaratis to vote for us: Hardik Patel
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Gujarat’s Viramgam Hardik Patel on Monday appealed to the people to cast their votes in the second phase of the Assembly elections which is underway and said that his party has worked for the development of the State.
“I appeal to everyone to vote. BJP has maintained law and order and has worked for the development of Gujarat. I want all Gujaratis to vote for BJP. We should exercise our power to vote as the election is the beauty of democracy,” Mr. Patel said ahead of casting his vote.— ANI
Arvind Kejriwal urges people to vote for progress of Gujarat
AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal urged the people of Gujarat to look towards State’s bright future and vote for change and development.
PM Modi appeals to people to vote in large numbers in second phase of Gujarat Assembly polls
Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the people to vote in large numbers in the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly polls and also in several by-polls across the country on Monday.
“Urging all those who are voting in Phase 2 of the Gujarat elections, particularly the young voters and women voters to vote in large numbers. I will be casting my vote in Ahmedabad at around 9 AM,” the Prime Minister tweeted. — PTI
Voting begins for second phase of Assembly elections
Election duty officers take charge of EVMs and VVPAT Machines in Ahmedabad ahead of Gujarat Assembly Election 2022.
| Photo Credit:
Vijay Soneji
Voting began for 93 seats in 14 districts across north and central Gujarat. Over 2.5 crore voters are eligible to vote and 833 candidates are vying for the 93 seats in the Assembly.
The BJP is seeking a seventh straight term in Gujarat where the new poll entrant Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has added a third dimension to the traditional bipolar contest between the saffron party and the Congress.
The 833 candidates in the fray for the second phase of polls include 285 independents.
Congress leader attacked
Sitting MLA Kanti Kharadi from ST reserved Danta seat in Banaskantha district in North Gujarat was allegedly attacked late last night.The Congress accused BJP of attacking Mr. Kharadi. The Congress party leaders claimed that their demand for deployment of additional paramilitary forces in the area was overlooked by the authorities.