Voting underway for 1st phase of Gujarat Elections

KalingaTV News Network

Gandhinagar: Around 15 per cent polling has been recorded in the first two hours for the first phase of Assembly elections in Gujarat. Voting is taking place for 89 constituencies in Kutch, Saurashtra and South Gujarat today.

Polling, which began at 8.00 AM, will continue till 5.00 PM. Over 2 crore 12 lakh voters will decide the fate of 977 candidates, including 57 women, in this phase.

Prominent candidates include Chief Minister Vijay Rupani who is contesting from Rajkot (West). He is pitted against Congress’ Indranil Rajyaguru.

Congress leader Shaktisingh Gohil, who was the former leader of the Opposition of the Gujarat Assembly, is trying his luck from Mandavi. BJP has fielded Virendrasingh Jadeja against Gohil.

All arrangements are in place for the smooth conduct of the polls. Both VVPAT machines and Electronic Voting Machines are being used in this phase in over 24,600 polling booths.

Over 1 lakh 74,000 police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order.

Polling for the second and final phase will be held next Thursday.  The counting of votes will take place on the 18th of this month along with Himachal Pradesh.