Gujarat Polls: Final Voter Turnout Stands at 66.7% For Phase 1
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The final voter turnout in the first phase of the Gujarat elections for 89 seats held on 9 December stood at 66.75 percent, the Election Commission said on Sunday.
Voters queued up in large numbers amid rising complaints of malfunctioning Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The Election Commission also received complaints of EVMs being connected to Bluetooth or WiFi from various regions.
A total of 977 candidates are in fray in the first phase for 89 seats in the Saurashtra and south Gujarat regions. The election is being viewed as a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a litmus test for the leadership of soon-to-be Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.
Click here for The Quint’s special election offering from the ground in Gujarat.
- Voting for the first phase of Gujarat Assembly elections ended at 5 pm on Saturday, 9 December
- Faulty EVMs were reported across several polling booths
Chief Electoral Officer BB Swain, orders probe, says around 45 EVMs have been replaced - 68 percent voter turnout was recorded as polling ended at 5:00 pm
- A total of 977 candidates are in the fray for 89 seats
66.75% Voters Cast Their Ballot In Phase 1
The final voter turnout in the first phase of the Gujarat elections for 89 seats held on 9 December stood at 66.75 percent, the Election Commission said on Sunday.
The poll panel had earlier declared an estimated 68 percent voter turnout.
In the 2012 elections, 71.32 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Gujarat for all the 182 seats.
Out of 2.12 crore voters in the regions, 1.41 crore exercised their franchise in the 89 seats in 19 districts, according to a release issued by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer for Gujarat.
Thank You For Voting: Narendra Modi
PM Narendra Modi thanked the people of Gujarat for turning up for the elections, and casting their votes.
Gajadi Village in Morbi Boycotts Elections Over Water Woes
Zero voting was recorded at Gajadi village in Morbi district of Gujarat today as the locals, fed up with water shortage, boycotted polling.
The village, though situated in Tankara tehsil of Morbi, comes under Kalavad constituency of Jamnagar district.
The district administration said they tried their best to persuade villagers to vote.
"Villagers had announced a few months ago that they will refrain from voting. Their main grievance was about water supply. Though the village is being supplied water through a pipeline, they claimed it was not enough and demanded another pipeline," said Morbi Collector and District Election Officer I K Patel.
"Even today senior officials went to the village and urged them to cast vote. But no one turned up at the polling booth," he added.
"When we told them there are plans to lay a new pipeline, villagers asked us to give the assurance on paper.
As the model code of conduct was in place, it was not possible to give it in writing. Such an assurance on the day of polling would also set a wrong precedent," the Collector added.
Higest Turnout Recorded at Morbi and Navsari
The highest voter turnout was recorded in Morbi and Navsari at 75%. The lowest voter turnout was in Botad at 60%.
Rs 50 Crore Demonetised Currency Seized from Bharuch
The Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence recovered around 50 crores in demonetised currency of 500 & 1000 rupee notes in Bharuch.
Three persons have been apprehended in connection with the case.
68% Voter Turnout at the End of Phase 1 Voting
According to the State Election Commission, 68 percent voter turnout was recorded at the end of phase 1.
The commission has however said that the final figure could exceed 70 percent.
Watch: Election Commission Briefing on Phase 1 of Gujarat Elections
The Election Commission said that the elections had remained largely 'event-free' in the first phase of voting.
Commenting on the complaints of EVM tampering that had risen across the state, the commission said:
The commission also rubbished reports of tampering via bluetooth in Porbandar, calling the allegations false.
The commission also said that while initial figures indicate a 68 percent voter turnout, the number could increase by the time final figures are acquired.
Arun Jaitley Confident of BJP Victory in Gujarat
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said he was confident of BJP’s victory in the Gujarat polls. Speaking to ANI, he said:
Later addressing a press conference, Jaitley said that the cases of EVM tampering were “an alibi for a foreseeable defeat.” Reacting to Arjun Arjun Modhwadia’s complaints of Bluetooth connection in EVM in Porbandar, Jaitley said:
Bharuch District Collector Rubbishes Claims of EVM Tampering
Speaking to ANI, the district collector of Bharuch said:
60.16% Voter Turnout till 4 pm
According to the State Election Commission, 60.16 percent voter turnout was recorded till 4pm.
Voting for Phase 1 Comes to an End
Voting for the first phase of the Gujarat Assembly Elections comes to an end amid allegations of EVM tampering.
Minor Altercations Between BJP and Congress Workers
Altercations were reported between BJP and Congress workers in Porbandar. The police intervened to bring the situation under control.
EVM Engineer S Anand Rubbishes Claims of EVMs Being Rigged via Bluetooth
EVM engineer S Anand talks to media after visiting a polling booth in Porbandar's Thakkar plot following complaints of EVM being connected to Bluetooth. The name given to a Bluetooth device will be shown when it is paired with another device, he told reporters.
Congress leader Mahesh Rajput filed an official complaint in Rajkot, alleging that EVM machines were showing three lights on the ballot when only one button was pressed. He also alleged that the EVMs were rigged via Bluetooth.
45.61% Voter Turnout till 2 pm
According to the State Election Commission, the voter turnout till 2 pm stands at 45.61 percent.
The Quint from Ground Zero
The Quint’s Rahul Nair sums up the entire situation in Gujarat where the first phase of elections is underway. While there has been a fairly good turnout till noon, there have been several allegations of malfunctioning EVMs.
30.31 Percent Voter Turnout till 12 pm
According to the State Election Commission, the voter turnout till noon has been 30.31 percent in the first phase of elections.
The voting percentage was 32 in Amreli, Bhavnagar-33, Kutch-29, Morbi-33, Rajkot-35, Jamnagar-32, Dwarka-27, Porbandar-28 and Gir Somnath- 30 till afternoon.
The Quint Reports From the Ground
The Quint’s reporter, Neeraj Gupta, gives you the ground report of the voter turnout in the first phase of elections.
45 EVMs Have Been Replaced: Chief Electoral Officer BB Swain
Chief Electoral Officer BB Swain said around 45 EVMs have been replaced. He told The Quint that a team has been sent to Porbandar to validate the complaints. He said the complainant has to prove the allegations on the spot.
CM Vijay Rupani Addresses the Media in Ahmedabad
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani says the Congress is claiming the EVMs are faulty because they are losing the elections.
13.38% Voter Turnout till 10 am
According to State Election Commission, the voter turnout till 10 am has been around 13.38 percent in the first phase of elections.
Chief Electoral Officer Orders Probe into Allegations of Faulty EVMs
Chief Electoral Officer BB Swain ordered Porbandar Collectors, observers and engineers to personally visit the booths where Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia complained of EVMs being rigged.
Modhwadia is up against BJP’s Babu Bokhiria for the third time in Porbandar.
Cong's Arjun Modhwadia Alleges EVMs Rigged via Bluetooth
Congress’ Arjun Modhwadia has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission stating EVMs at Porbandar’s Sharda Mandir booth numbers 145, 146 and 147 have been rigged using Bluetooth.
He told The Quint, “The three EVMs that we have checked could be connected to Bluetooth. A device named ‘ECO’ shows up when you switch on Bluetooth on mobile phones. This is a very serious matter. I have taken screenshots and filed a complaint with the Election Commission.”
Ahmed Patel casts his vote in Bharuch's Ankleshwar
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel casts his vote in Bharuch's Ankleshwar. “Congress will win more than 110 seats,” the Rajya Sabha MP says.
Faulty EVMs in Surat replaced
The faulty electronic voting machines (EVM) in Sardar Patel Vidyalaya booth in Surat's Varaccha has been replaced.
However, there have been reports of multiple faulty EVMs across polling stations.
Couple Cast Votes Before Wedding Ceremony
A couple Nikunj Bhatt and Vaibhavi Bhatt in Bharuch in Gujarat cast their votes before their wedding ceremony.
Gujarat, Go out and Vote!
No matter which party you support or which leader you like - make sure you go out and vote, folks in Gujarat!
PM Modi Urges People to Vote
In a tweet, PM Narendra Modi urged people to vote in large numbers today. He particularly asked youngsters to exercise their franchise.
Gujarat CM Casts His Vote in Rajkot
CM Vijay Rupani casts his vote in Rajkot. He is contesting against Congress’ Indranil Rajyaguru from Rajkot-West seat.
People Begin Queuing up to Vote
Voters begin queuing outside a polling booth in Surat to exercise their right to franchise.
Gujarat BJP Chief Jitubhai Vaghani Casts His Vote in Bhavnagar
Gujarat BJP president Jitubhai Vaghani cast his vote in Bhavnagar. He is contesting from Bhavnagar West constituency, which he had represented in the 2012 polls as well.
Gujarat CM Appeals to People to Come out and Vote
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani appealed to people to come out in large number and exercise their franchise. He said he was confident that there won’t be any challenges to the saffron party in the elections.
Voting for First Phase Begins
Voting for first phase of Gujarat Assembly elections began at 8 am on Saturday, 9 December. Voting will continue till 5 pm. As many as 89 seats are up for grabs in the south Gujarat and Saurashtra regions.
BJP Releases Election Manifesto 24 Hrs Before Elections
Less than 24 hours before the first phase of polling were to begin in Gujarat, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its election manifesto on Friday, 8 December, with a slew of promises, which included a resolve to “double” farmers’ income.
Releasing the manifesto, the BJP’s election in-charge for Gujarat, Arun Jaitley, said the saffron party was prepared keeping in mind the party’s resolution to maintain and improve on the 10 percent growth clocked by the state under the BJP rule.
Manifestos are all but common during election season, with each party laying down a list of promises it would deliver once it assumes power. The Congress released its ‘people’s manifesto’ on 4 December. The party embraced Patidar reservation and even promised an unemployment allowance to the youth.
Won't Join Any Political Party: PAAS Convener
A day before the first phase of Gujarat elections, Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convener Dinesh Bambhniya said that he will not join any political party.
Polling for First Phase of Gujarat in South Gujarat and Saurashtra
Gujarat goes to polls on Saturday, 9 December, in the first phase of the Assembly elections. Polling will be held for 89 seats in the south Gujarat and Saurashtra regions, with 977 candidates in the fray.
2.12 Crores Voters Expected to Vote
The second phase of the high-stakes election – with the BJP making a bid for a fifth term and the Congress attempting an electoral revival – will be held on 14 December.
After a campaign that often turned vituperative, around 2.12 crore voters are expected to exercise their franchise in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state on Saturday, 9 December. The battle will be between the incumbent BJP and the Congress.
Eighty-nine seats will be up for grabs in the north and central Gujarat in the second phase of polling. The votes will be counted on 18 December.
All You Need to Know About Phase I of Gujarat Elections
A total of 977 candidates are contesting in the first phase of Gujarat election for 182 seats, of which roughly only five percent are women candidates.
There are 24,689 polling stations for 212.31 lakh voters in phase I.
Total Number of Candidates
Candidates With Criminal Records
An analysis of the affidavits of 923 candidates out of the total 977 in fray for the first phase of Gujarat Assembly polls, showed that 137 candidates – or 15 percent – were facing criminal cases, including serious charges such as murder, kidnapping and rape, according to two NGOs.
The analysis was carried out by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Gujarat Election Watch. As many as 78 of 137 nominees are facing serious criminal cases.
A party-wise analysis found that 10 out of 89 BJP candidates were facing serious criminal charges, while the Congress gave tickets to as many as 20 such candidates for the first phase of polls, a report by the NGOs said.
Financial Details of Candidates
In all, there are 198 crorepatis contesting the election, 76 of whom belong to the BJP and 60 from the Congress.
Three candidates – Indranil Rajyaguru from the Congress and Saurabh Patel and Bhanjibhai Patel from the BJP – own assets worth more than Rs 100 crore, The Financial Express reported.
How Gujarat Voted in 2012
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