AMN
Brisk polling is going on in Gujarat in the first phase of voting. Voting began at 8 am this morning. Long queues are seen at the polling stations with people of all ages coming out in large numbers to vote.Overall 21 percentage voter turnout has been recorded till 12noon.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who is contesting from Rajkot (West), has already cast his vote in Rajkot.
Over two crore voters will decide the fate of 977 candidates in this phase. There are a total of 57 women candidates in fray in the first phase.
Over 35 per cent voter turnout has been recorded in first phase of assembly elections till 1 PM. Polling for 89 constituencies began at 8 in the morning and it will continue till 5 in the evening.
Long queues can be seen in front of the polling booths. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and several other political leaders have cast their votes.
BJP is contesting in all 89 and Congress in 87 seats. BSP 64, NCP 30 and AAP is contesting in 21 seats.
The first phase of polling is covering Saurashtra, Kutch and South Gujarat. Nine hundred and seventy-seven candidates are in the fray, including 57 women.
Prominent candidates include Chief Minister Vijay Rupani who is contesting from Rajkot (West). He is pitted against Congress’ Indranil Rajyaguru.
Congress leader Shaktisingh Gohil, who was a former leader of Opposition of Gujarat Assembly, is trying his luck from Mandavi. BJP has fielded Virendrasingh Jadeja against Gohil.
In Patidar-dominated Amreli, Paresh Dhanani of Congress is contesting against BJP heavyweight Bavkubhai Undhad, the legislator from the nearby Lathi seat.