Around 70% voting in Gujarat poll phase 1

The final figure was likely to go up since people were still standing in queues outside polling centres after close of voting at 5 pm, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha said in Delhi. Sixty eight per cent of the 2.1 crore voters exercised their franchise, Sinha said. Voting began at 8 am.

Four persons were injured in clashes between two groups of the same community at Chorvila village of Sayla tehsil of Surendranagar district. The polls, however, largely passed off peacefully. Opposition leaders raised apprehensions about EVM tampering, a charge rejected by the EC. The BJP took pot-shots at the Congress saying that the party was looking for excuses. State Election Commission officials also said there were reports of technical glitches in EVMs in Surat and some other centres, but polling resumed after the machines were replaced.

Several important leaders, including Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, his opponent from Rajkot (West) seat Indranil Rajyaguru, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, Gujarat BJP chief Jitu Vaghani were among the early voters. Cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara also cast his vote in Rajkot. The Congress, in political wilderness in Gujarat for nearly 22 years, is desperate to break the jinx. It has raised questions on BJP’s Gujarat “development model”, demonetisation and GST. The BJP is banking on its performance and Modi’s popularity to counter any anti-incumbency or impact of the Patidar quota stir. Modi has attacked the Congress over dynastic politics and corruption and invoked “Gujarati pride’ in his campaign speeches.

PM thanks people: PM Modi thanked the people of Gujarat for turning out in large numbers to vote and tweeted that “...BJP is headed towards a historic victory, powered by the affection and support of every Gujarati.” He had also urged the youth to turn out in large numbers to cast their vote.

Prominent faces in Saturday’s battle: CM Vijay Rupani, Cong heavyweights - Shaktisinh Gohil (Mandvi) and Paresh Dhanani (Amreli)

Saurashtra and Surat are seen as strategically vital in this election because they have a large number of Patels or Patidars, an influential caste reportedly upset with the ruling party.