Voting in the second and final phase of Gujarat Assembly elections came to an end on Thursday, 14 December, with 68.7 percent voters exercising their right to franchise. The voter turnout percentage for the first phase was also revised to 66.75.
The overall voter turnout was 67.40 percent. This was lower than the overall voter turnout in the 2012 Assembly elections, in which 71.3 percent voters exercised their right to franchise.
A higher turnout was observed in rural areas compared to urban centres. In fact, when The Quint visited around 16 poll booths in Ahmedabad, the voter presence was scanty.
The day started with all the big political names turning out to cast their votes. While Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah voted in Naranpura, former chief minister Anandiben Patel cast her vote in Ghatlodia. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley voted in Vejalpur, and senior BJP leader LK Advani practised his franchise in Jamalpur-Khadiya.
However, the Prime Minister stole the show. After attending the commissioning of INS Karvali in Mumbai, Narendra Modi made a grand entrance to a polling booth in Ahmedabad in the Sabarmati area.
However, as Modi’s motorcade proceeded to the polling booth, crowds gathered around the convoy, and it eventually turned into a ‘roadshow.’ The Congress lodged a complaint with the EC claiming that the PM violated the moral code of conduct by holding a ‘roadshow.’
The election body, however, said this was not a violation since it “does not fall under the ambit of the model code.”
The EC’s response angered the Congress. Party general secretary Ashok Gehlot accused the Election Commission of being too lenient with the BJP.
The EC, in a press conference on Thursday, said they noted the allegations made by the Congress and the complaint is "under examination."
The Election Commission also said no FIR has been lodged against Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi for giving interviews to TV channels, which were aired hours before the second phase of polling was to begin.
Exit Polls Predict a BJP Comeback
The response of voters was less than enthusiastic. The Gujarati voters could not decide, even till the last minute, whom to vote for, the low turnout standing testimony.
All exit polls predicted that the BJP would retain power in the state. Though the Congress gave a spirited fight, the party could not disassociate itself from Rahul Gandhi. There were no strong local faces during poll campaigning.
Eventually, the indecisive Gujarati voter decided to remain with the BJP despite being affected by demonetisation, the goods and services tax (GST), and rising inflation.
The fate of Gujarat would be sealed on Monday, 18 December, as the winner would be declared after all votes are counted.
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