The first phase of the Assembly elections in Gujarat saw a 60% voter turnout on Thursday. 89 assembly seats went to polls yesterday, including the key region of Surat. Surat is known to be a BJP stronghold but the Aam Aadmi Party has campaigned extensively in the district, and party supremo Arvind Kejriwal has said they hope to win at least half of the 16 segments there.
Here are the updates on Gujarat elections:
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PM Modi will address four public rallies in Kanakraj, Patan and Sojitra, and Ahmedabad, where he will hold a roadshow as well. Union Minister Amit Shah will also hold rallies in Bechraji, Vijapur, and Gandhinagar South and a roadshow in Vadodara. For the Congress, Ashok Gehlot and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will hold the rallies in Bhiloda and Gandhi Nagar South.
A moderate voter turnout of 60.23 per cent was recorded in the first phase of the Gujarat Assembly polls covering 89 assembly seats over the 19 districts, officials said on Thursday. Comparatively, the voter turnout was less than 66.75 per cent in the first phase of the 2017 Assembly polls.
Gujarat Voter Turnout At 5 PM
Gujarat recorded 56.88 per cent voter turnout till 5 pm in the first phase of the assembly election today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took out a 40-km-long roadshow in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad on a day when voting in the first of the two-phase assembly election was held. PM Modi spent about three hours during the roadshow and managed to cover 16 seats.
Voting Peaceful
Barring a few minor incidents and some reports of problems in electronic voting machines (EVMs), the voting process, which commenced at 8 am, remained largely peaceful so far.
Actor Swara Bhasker today took part in Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain with party leader Rahul Gandhi. The official Twitter handle of the Indian National Congress shared a picture of Ms Bhasker with Rahul Gandhi.
Key Details About First Phase
As many as 26,269 ballot units, 25,430 control units and 25,430 VVPATs were being used in polling stations across the 19 districts where voting was being held in the first phase to decide the fate of 788 candidates.
A voters’ turnout of 48.5 per cent was recorded at 3:00 pm during the first phase of Gujarat assembly elections. Polling is underway in 89 seats in the state in this phase.
34.5% Voter Turnout Till 1 PM In Gujarat
A voters’ turnout of 34.5 per cent was recorded at 1:00 pm during the first phase of Gujarat assembly elections. Polling is underway in 89 seats in the state in this phase.
Gujarat Home Minster Harsh Sanghavi cast his vote during the first phase of the assembly elections at a polling station in Surat today. He is contesting from the Majura constituency.
Arjun Modhwadia, Congress candidate from Gujarat’s Porbandar constituency, today cast his vote during the first phase of polling in the assembly election. Before casting his vote, Mr Modhwadia told reporter that even the BJP is aware of the “people’s resolution to remove BJP”.
“People have taken a resolve to remove the BJP. The BJP knows about it that is why they changed the cabinet, including the Chief Minister, a year ago. There were allegations of corruption against them and now the new government is also functioning similarly. Hence, people are in a mood for change which they have created themselves,” Mr Modhwadia said.
#GujaratElections2022 | Union minister Darshana Jardosh casts vote in Surat.
She says “People are voting for double-engine govt in the state. People from every community have been voting and we’ll be forming govt with an absolute majority.” pic.twitter.com/0GPXo0I84F
– ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2022
Gujarat Polls Phase-1 Voting: 18.9% Turnout Till 11 am
Gujarat recorded a voters’ turnout of 18.9 per cent till 11 am. The first phase of voting is currently underway in the state.
“People of my village (Hanol) have always believed in the politics of development. I see that the trust of the people of Gujarat has increased in BJP. This time we will break our record and create a new record.”
Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Health Minister and BJP leader
The 2022 assembly polls in Gujarat are the “semi-finals” for Lok Sabha elections in 2024, said state Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai after casting his vote today. “After the country accepted Gujarat’s model of development in 2014, these 2022 assembly elections are the semi-finals for 2024 elections,” he told ANI. He said every person in Gujarat has decided to vote for BJP. “Gujarat has been progressing. People have trust in BJP that there will be more development in the state,” he added.
“Today is the first phase of polling in Gujarat. I appeal to all brothers and sisters to vote in large numbers for peace, development, and prosperity in the state. This is the main pillar of progress. Your participation in this great festival of democracy will play an important role in the development of Gujarat.”
JP Nadda, BJP national president
“In the last two decades, Gujarat has become synonymous with development and peace, which every Indian is proud of. But this was possible because of the strong government elected by the people of Gujarat. I appeal to the voters in the first phase to vote with unprecedented enthusiasm and numbers to continue this journey of development.”
Amit Shah, Union Home Minister and BJP leader
“I appeal to all brothers and sisters of Gujarat, vote…for employment, cheap gas cylinder, and loan waivers for farmers. For the progressive future of Gujarat, vote in large numbers and make this festival of democracy a success.”
Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader
“Modi Magic Works Every Time”: Gujarat BJP Chief
Gujarat BJP chief CR Paatil today cast his vote for the first phase of Gujarat Elections at a polling station in Surat. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s magic works every time and everywhere. He’s in people’s hearts. They trust him and he is capable of meeting their expectations,” he said before he went to cast his vote.
We are advocating a change. Chief Ministers were changed, so they can feel anti-incumbency. There is a neck-to-neck fight here (Ankleshwar): Mumtaz Patel, late senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel’s daughter #GujaratElections2022pic.twitter.com/GpTIyy2pDY
– ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2022
“This is not the first time it’s happening. Several families in Jamnagar have members working for different parties. Be satisfied with your ideology, give your 100% and the better one will win. My love for my brother stays the same. My sister-in-law is a BJP candidate as of now. As a sister-in-law she is good”
Naina Jadeja, Congress supporter who’s the sister of cricketer Ravindra Jadeja and sister-in-law of BJP candidate Rivaba Jadeja
“I’m with the Congress. Party matters are different from family matters. We should stay with our party, been with them for years. He knows it’s a party matter, there’s no family problem”
— Anirudhsinh Jadeja, cricketer Ravindra Jadeja’s father and BJP candidate Rivaba Jadeja’s father-in-law
Kamuben Lalabhai Patel, a 100-year-old voter, cast her vote in Umargam today.
Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel and his wife cast their votes today at a polling booth in Navsari, during the first phase of the Gujarat assembly elections. Gujarat Minister Purnesh Modi also exercised his franchise at a polling booth in Surat.
#GujaratAssemblyPolls | There’s no difficulty. There can be people of different ideologies in same family. I’ve trust in people of Jamnagar, we will focus on overall development, and this time as well BJP will win with a good margin: BJP’s Rivaba Jadeja after casting her vote pic.twitter.com/P4Il0MLaDo
– ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2022
“I appeal to people to cast their votes. Voting is necessary to safeguard democracy. I am confident that BJP is going to form the government in Gujarat for the seventh time. People have love and respect for PM Modi, they won’t go anywhere else.”
Vijay Rupani, former Gujarat Chief Minister
BJP Candidate From Gujarat’s Vansda Attacked By Unidentified Men
A BJP candidate was attacked by unidentified men in Gujarat’s Vansda late last night. Piyush Patel, spokesperson of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), is contesting the election from Vansda in Navsari district where voting is underway in the first phase.
Today is the first phase of the Gujarat elections. I call upon all those voting today, particularly first time voters to exercise their franchise in record numbers.
– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2022
“Gujarat is celebrating festival of democracy today. Participate in this festival of democracy in maximum numbers and set a new record of voting.”
– Rajiv Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner
“Gujarat is celebrating festival of democracy today. लोकतंत्र के इस पर्व में अधिक से अधिक भाग लेकर मतदान का नया कीर्तिमान स्थापित करें “- CEC Shri Rajiv Kumar message to all voters of Gujarat. #GujaratElections2022#ECI#EveryVoteMatters#NoVoterToBeLeftBehindpic.twitter.com/LTHDius9hK
– Election Commission of India #SVEEP (@ECISVEEP) December 1, 2022
As Gujarat is all set to vote for the first phase of the assembly elections, Jambur, India’s ‘mini African village’ will vote in its special tribal booth for the first time.
#Watch | People of Gujarat’s mini African village- Jambur, celebrated their first opportunity to vote in their own special tribal booth (30.11)#GujaratElectionspic.twitter.com/LFrG6q8ukT
– ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2022
Gujarat will vote for a new government in two phases in this year’s big assembly election. The polls will see an intense fight between the ruling BJP, Congress and AAP. BJP will aim to retain power in one of its strongholds while Congress is trying to make a comeback after decades. Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP is looking to expand its reach after its victory in Punjab. Read here.
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