Gujarat elections 2017: Crowds, music make last day of filing nominations a colourful affair

The Collector's office near RTO is a place buzzing with activity on any normal day. But the crowd increased manifold on Monday, the last day of filing nominations for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections as candidates and their supporters thronged the office with shouts and loud music. 

BJP workers, including women who accompanied Ellisbridge candidate Rakesh Shah, all donned a saffron 'paghdi'. "We had called a special person at our office to help us tie the paghdi. All BJP workers will be wearing it today," said Rajika Kacheria, one of the supporters who waited for Shah.

Heavy police bandobast was made outside the office to help in crowd management. The cops restricted the number of people who could accompany a candidate to five although the rule often went for a toss when the candidate was from the ruling BJP. In fact, when Bhupendra Patel, the BJP's candidate from Ghatlodia came to file his nomination accompanied by former Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, the guards including BSF jawans struggled to prevent the supporters from entering the office.

In fact, the arrival of Anandiben was accompanied by large scale bursting of crackers.

Congress candidate from Jamalpur — Khadia Imran Khedawala and his supporters —had to wait for sometime after the officials informed them that another candidate was in the room filing his nomination. Khedawalam, in the meantime, posed for photographs with supporters. Many people who had work at the Collector's office, also found it difficult to enter the premises on account of heavy police security.