The fate of 846 candidates has been sealed in EVMs as a record-breaking 68% voter turnout – almost 10% higher than in the 2007 elections – has been registered in the first phase of Gujarat assembly elections.
The fate of 846 candidates has been sealed in EVMs as a record-breaking 68% voter turnout – almost 10% higher than in the 2007 elections – has been registered in the first phase of Gujarat assembly elections on Thursday. The voting was largely peaceful amid tight security arrangements.
“Approximately 68% voter turnout has been recorded in the first phase of Gujarat elections, as compared with 59.7% in the 2007 assembly elections,” deputy election commission, Vinod Zutshi, told reporters after polling ended at 5.00pm.
Back-of-the-envelope calculations show that more than 1.23 crore out of 1.81 crore registered voters cast their votes in Thursday’s polls.
The record turnout of voters has left political parties and pundits scratching their heads, and they are trying to identify the undercurrents that have led to the highest-ever turnout in the state elections.
However, one thing is sure. The outcome of these elections could very well decide if chief minister Narendra Modi is nominated as BJP’s prime ministerial candidate in the 2014 parliamentary elections.
Voter turnout in Sanand, Viramgam, Dholka and Dhandhuka, the four seats in Ahmedabad district that went to polls in the first phase on Thursday, was registered at 66.8%.
Forty-eight seats in seven districts of Saurashtra and 35 seats in seven districts of south Gujarat also went to polls on Thursday.
Polling began at a slow pace at most of the 87 constituencies. By the end of the first hour, only 6% of the total votes were cast. The voting remained comparatively slow till 1am, as 18% votes were cast by then. However, polling picked up after that as voters queued up at polling booths to exercise their right to vote.
According to officials, 38% of the total votes were cast by 1pm, which went up to 53% by 3pm. The voter turnout was approximately 68% by the end of voting at 5pm. This could be attributed to greater awareness among voters as well as due to Election Commission’s efforts to encourage more voters to exercise their right to vote.
There were a few reports of EVM malfunctioning from some polling booths in Sanand, Viramgam and Surat seats. There were also some instances of voters not being able to vote as their names were missing from the electoral rolls. A few incidents of violence were reported from some of the constituencies, but polling was by and large peaceful.
The fate of prominent leaders such as former CM Keshubhai Patel, finance minister Vaju Vala, leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil, Gujarat Congress president Arjun Modhwadia, Gujarat BJP president RC Faldu, among others were sealed in EVMs.
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