The first phase of elections to 89 seats for the Gujarat State Assembly finished on Saturday without any untoward incident.
The Election Commission said in New Delhi that till the latest figures trickled in, the voting percentage was 68 per cent. In 2012, Gujarat in two phases of elections, had reported 71.32 per cent voter turnout. The Commission said that the figures could touch the last year's level when the final figures come in.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi addressed rallies at places where the voting is to take place on December 14 in the second phase. Results will be out on December 18. Gujarat has 182 seats in total.
For the first time, Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) were used along with the EVMs in Gujarat.
There were complaints of faulty EVMs from several parts of the state. According to the Election Commission, the complaints were attended to.
However, just as the polling had begun, the biggest complaint had come from Congress candidate in Porbandar, Arjun Modhwadia. He had alleged that the EVMs were connected with bluetooth. An inquiry was launched, following which the EC said that the complaint was false.
The fate of several top BJP and Congress leaders have been sealed. Among those in the fray in the first phase were Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, state BJP president Jitubhai Vaghani, former state BJP president R.C. Faldu and Congress leaders Shaktisinh Gohil, Paresh Dhanani and Modhwadia.
Modi tweeted to thank the masses and said that the BJP would get a historic win.
Patidar stir leader Hardik Patel said that the results would be encouraging.
The first phase of elections were crucial for the Congress which is expected to improve its performance in Kutch and Saurashtra region. In 2012, out of the six seats in Kutch, the BJP had won five and the Congress one.
In Saurashtra region, out of the 48 seats, the BJP had won 30, the Congress 15, Gujarat Parivartan Party 2 and the NCP 1.
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala and former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel voted in Rajkot. Vala represented the Rajkot (West) seat till he was appointed Karnataka Governor. Rupani is now the BJP's candidate from this seat against Indranil Rajyaguru of the Congress.
On Friday night, before leaving Vadodara for New Delhi, Gandhi had expressed confidence that the Congerss would win the elections.
