Gujarat Elections 2017 | High turnout a reply to those spreading anarchy: CM Vijay Rupani

Chief minister Vijay Rupani said on Saturday that the high voter turnout in the first phase of the Assembly elections was a response to attempts being made in the last two years to spread anarchy in the state.

Without naming the Congress or the Patidar reservation agitation, Rupani said that the high turnout to cast votes is a fitting reply to attempts to spread anarchy by dividing various communities.

Rupani, who is contesting from Rajkot West seat, said that high turnout would work in BJP's favour.

"We have seen long queues since polling began. This excitement in the first phase shows that the BJP will win more than 150 seats and create a new record in the state. The second phase will be even better," Rupani said in Ahmedabad, a few hours after casting his vote in Rajkot.

Taking a dig at the Congress for its claims that it would form the government in the state, the CM said that the party had also claimed that it was going to win in 2002, 2007 and 2012 elections.

"We all know what happened then. The result will be the same this time," he said, adding that the Congress would start raising question marks about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) when it loses.

Finance minister and BJP leader Arun Jaitley said that the high turnout reflects the acceptance to BJP and its policies of development. He also said that because of VVPAT voting is taking more time, and asked the Election Commission to ensure that voters who are in queues at 5:00 pm should be allowed to vote.