Voting Concludes In Gujarat, All Eyes On Counting Of Votes On Thursday

The voting concluded in Gujarat on Monday. With the culmination of the voting, now all eyes set on the counting on Thursday.

Earlier, amidst much fanfare Prime Minister Narendra Modi casted his vote in the second phase of Gujarat assembly elections. Modi reached the polling booth Nishan Public School at Ranip in Ahmedabad early in the morning.

PM Modi is a registered voter under Sabarmati Assembly constituency that was won by BJP’s Arvidkumar Gandabhai Patel in 2017 defeating Congress’ Jitubhai Patel by 68,810 votes. However, this year BJP has fielded Harshadbhai Patel against Congress’ Dinesh Mahida and AAP’s Jasvant Thakor.

After casting the vote, PM addressed the media and congratulated Election Commission for peacefully conducting the polls. Outside the booth he said, “The festival of democracy has been celebrated with great pomp by the people of Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi. I want to thank people of the country. I also want to congratulate Election Commission for conducting elections peacefully.”

Earlier in a tweet PM appealed to the people to cast their votes in large numbers In his appeal he said, “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.”

Home Minister Amit Shah also has cast his democratic franchise accompanied by his family members including BCCI secretary Jay Shah at Naranpura polling station in Ahmedabad. After casting vote, he along with family offered prayers at a temple.

AAP Chief Ministerial candidate Isudan Gandhvi has also cast his vote and said, "I expect AAP to win 51 plus out of 89 seats in the first phase & 52 plus seats in the second phase." 

On the other side, Jignesh Mevani has alleged that that the people are being threatened inside the polling both in his constituency Vadgam. In a post he has tagged election commission and said, "In order to influence voters at booth number 140 in Malosana village of Vadgaon constituency, some people are being allowed to visit the booth again even after polling is over so that voters can be threatened and cast their vote. When my team reached the spot, there was only one policeman." 

Meanwhile, Congress leader and former president of the party Rahul Gandhi in a tweet appealed to the voters to turnout in large numbers to bring a ‘change’. Gandhi said, “We will fulfill the promise given to youngsters, farmers, women and every citizen. We will bring change in Gujarat. There is an appeal to the people of Gujarat, vote in large numbers. By bearing your rights, fulfill this important responsibility for the progress and development of the state.”

An average 50.51 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm on Monday in the second and final phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections covering 93 seats across 14 districts of north and central regions, the Election Commission said.   

Apart from Modi and Shah, several political bigshots have today cast their votes in Gujarat. CM Bhupendra Patel, Delhi L G V K Saxena, UP Governor Anandiben Patel are a few of them apart from young leaders like Hardik Patel.

Gujarat is voting today in 93 assembly constituencies spread across 14 districts of central and northern Gujarat. While the CM himself is contesting today from Ghatlodia, Ahmedabad; political eyes are fixed at the fights in Vadgam, Gandhinagar South and Viramgam where three vibrant youth activists Jignesh Mevani, Alpesh Thakor and Hardik Patel are trying their lucks respectively.

The results of the election will be out on December 8.