63.64 pc voter turnout in Gujarat LS polls

Except for a stray incident of voters being threatened, the polling was peaceful

PTI4_23_2019_000016B Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani with his wife Anjali Rupani show their inked marked finger after casting vote | PTI

An estimated 63.64 per cent polling has been reported for 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat on Tuesday, even as arch rivals the BJP and the Congress exuded confidence of performing well. According to sources, the polling figures might change marginally.

BJP chief Amit Shah and a few former Union ministers from the Congress are in the fray. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah, senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala cast their votes.

Except for a stray incident of voters being threatened by three miscreants in Junagadh, the polling was peaceful. An FIR has been lodged against three persons in connection with the incident and one has been arrested.

There have also been a few complaints about people being threatened by polling agents in the tribal belt of Gujarat.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani thanked the electorate and said he was hopeful that the party would win all the 26 seats. In 2014, the saffron party had won all the 26 seats. Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi claimed that the party would win more than 14 seats.

The BJP's campaign centered around nationalism and emotional appeals by the prime minister. The ruling party also tried to woo the electorate by mentioning the 'achievements' of the Union government.

The Congress criticised the BJP for politicising the armed forces and raised questions over various government decisions, including GST and demonetisation.