Gujarat Assembly Election Highlights: Voter turnout reaches 58.7% as polling closes

The voting is under way for the second phase for 93 Assembly constituencies across 14 districts of central and north Gujarat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP leader Hardik Patel were among early voters. The BJP and the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP are contesting in all the 93 seats. The Congress is contesting in 90 seats and its alliance partner Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has fielded candidates in two seats. Follow latest updates on the Gujarat Assembly Election with DH!

Voter turnout reaches 58.7% as voting closes

Voters stand in a queue to cast their votes for the 2nd phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections, in Ahmedabad. Credit: PTI Photo

Rahul Gandhi promises change in Gujarat, Amit Shah says vote for a bright future

Voting for the second and final phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections is being held on Monday. While Union Home Minister Amit Shah has appealed to the people to vote for a better future, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked the people to vote for change in the state.

Shah appealed to the voters, especially the youth and asked them to vote in maximum numbers to elect his government with a thumping majority which had ensured peace and prosperity in the state. He underlined that the golden future of Gujarat lay in their votes.

On the other hand, Gandhi said that Congress would fulfil the promise to the youth, farmers, women and every citizen to bring change in Gujarat.

Voters wait in a queue to cast their votes at a polling booth during the second and final phase of Gujarat Assembly elections, in Ahmedabad. Credit: PTI Photo

A woman leaves a polling booth after casting her vote during the second and last phase of Gujarat Assembly election in Ahmedabad. Credit: Reuters photo

Voter turnout reaches 50.51% at 3 pm; Sabarkantha district leads with 57.23% turnout

Congress faces AIMIM competitor in battle for Muslim votes in Jamalpur Khadia

The contest for the Muslim-dominated Jamalpur Khadia Assembly constituency in Ahmedabad city has become a three-cornered one with the entry of Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM, a cause of worry especially for Congress as the AIMIM nominee is a former MLA of the grand old party who had contested as an Independent in 2012 resulting in the victory for BJP from the seat.

Read more

PM Modi's mother casts vote

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Hiraba cast her vote at a polling booth in Raysan village near Gandhinagar city on Monday during the second phase of polling for Gujarat Assembly elections.

The PM's mother, who entered her 100th year in June, lives with her younger son Pankaj Modi in Raysan village near Gandhinagar city. She reached the polling booth in a wheelchair with the help of Pankaj Modi and other family members and exercised her franchise. - PTI.

Former Indian cricketers Yusuf Pathan and Irfan Pathan along with their family members cast their votes at a polling booth in Vadodara

BSF jawan votes first before getting married

A Border Security Force jawan Chhotusinh Vaghela, whose marriage was scheduled on Monday, reached the polling booth at the Duva village in Tharad constituency to cast his vote before heading to the wedding venue.

Speaking to local media, Vaghela said, "I am posted in West Bengal but I am on leave, as my marriage is scheduled today. But before the Baarat procession starts, I and my family members decided to cast our votes. I feel that as I am protecting the country's borders, it is my duty to protect democracy also and so I gave priority to voting."(IANS)

Clash between supporters of Congress and BJP candidates in Danta, FIR lodged

Supporters of the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party candidates from Danta Assembly seat in Gujarat's Banaskantha district allegedly clashed with each other after a collision between the vehicles of the two leaders, police said on Monday. No one was injured in the incident which took place at around 10.30 pm on Sunday, Banaskantha Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshayraj Makwana told PTI.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet late night claimed the party's tribal leader and Danta Assembly seat candidate Kantibhai Kharadi was brutally attacked by BJP goons and then went missing. SP Makwana said Kharadi, the sitting MLA from Danta seat, and BJP nominee Latu Parghi levelled allegations that they were attacked by each other's supporters with deadly weapons after a collision between their vehicles. (PTI)

Gujarat Elections: Mamata criticises Modi for 'road show' on polling day

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday hit out at the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over for holding a 'road show' on the day of polling.

Crowds waved at PM Modi as he walked across to the polling station in Ahmedabad to vote in the second phase of Gujarat Assembly Election on Monday.

Read more

Gujarat reports 34.74% voter turnout till 1 pm in the second phase of polls

Scuffle breaks out between BJP and Congress workers in Anand constituency

Sonia Gandhi had said nobody can replace Ahmed Patel and we'll always feel his absence. In these polls, we felt his absence. But people saw the tactics the BJP had used to defeat Ahmed Patel andthey haven't forgotten. They'll vote against the BJP as tribute, saysShaktisinh Gohil.

Voting is under way in the 93 Assembly seats spread across 14 districts including Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Gandhinagar.

In the 2017 Assembly polls, the ruling BJP won 51 of these seats, Congress 39, while three seats went to independent candidates. In central Gujarat, the BJP had bagged 37 seats, outnumbering the Congress which got 22. But in north Gujarat, the Congress had won 17 seats while the saffron party got 14.

AAP will win 141 plus seats in the second phase, says Isudan Gadhvi

PM Modi's brother Somabhai gets emotional, says my brother should take some rest as well

PM Modi's mother Heeraben Modi casts her vote for the second phase of Gujarat polls

A voter turnout of 19.17% has been recorded till 11 am in the second phase of Gujarat elections 2022.

Thakor Shantaben Ramaji, the oldest voter of Bijapur, felicitated at Puspa Guchch

CM Bhupendra Patel casts his vote, says BJP will break all its old records in elections.

Hardik Patel says the BJP will win 150 seats.

Congress pitches for 'parivartan' as voting under way for second phase

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi on Monday pitched for bringing about "parivartan (change)" in Gujarat as they urged voters to exercise their franchise.

The second and final phase of voting for the Gujarat Assembly elections began at 8 am on Monday in 93 constituencies across 14 districts in the central and north regions of the state.

"It is a humble request to every citizen of Gujarat to participate in this 'parivartan utsav (festival of change)'. Do vote today," Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi. "Hearty congratulations to our young friends who are voting for the first time," he said.

"I see a change of 27-year-long BJP rule," says former Gujarat CM Shankersinh Vaghela.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah appeals to everyone, especially the first-time voters, to vote.

Amit Shah casts his vote in Gandhinagar in the second phase of Gujarat polls

BJP candidate from Viramgam, Hardik Patel casts his vote for the second phase of Gujarat polls in Chandranagar Primary School.

UP Governor Anandiben Patel cast her vote in the second phase of Gujarat polls

PM Modi congratulates Election Commission for conducting elections peacefully

After casting his vote, PM Modi again urges voters to turnout in record numbers

PM Modi casts his vote in Ahmedabad

Voting under way for Kurhani Assembly constituency

Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves from Gandhinagar Raj Bhawan to cast his vote for the Gujarat Assembly elections at Nishan Public School, Ranip.

Hardik Patel wants all Gujaratis to vote for BJP

Here are the key constituencies to track:

Some of the important constituencies in the second phase include Ghatlodia (in Ahmedabad district) of CM Patel, Viramgam seat (also in Ahmedabad) from where Hardik Patel is fighting on the BJP's ticket and Gandhinagar South from where Thakor is fighting as the saffron party's candidate.

Besides, Mevani is contesting as the Congress candidate from Vadgam seat in Banaskantha district, and Rathva is the nominee from Jetpur in Chhota Udepur district. BJP rebel Madhu Shrivastav is contesting as an independent candidate from Vaghodia seat in Vadodara district.

These 93 Assembly segments are spread across Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Gandhinagar and other districts. There are 5.96 lakh voters in the age group of 18 to 19 years, according to the Election Commission. The poll body has set up 14,975 polling stations for which 1.13 lakh election staffers have been deployed.

The voting has began in a tight battle for 93 seats in the final phase of polling in Gujarat. PM Modi and Shah will caste their votes today.

Modi urges people in Gujarat to vote in large numbers

The election commission has appealed to the voters to come out and vote in large numbers as the first phase witnessed 63.31 per cent turnout compared to 66.75 per cent in 2017 for the same phase. There are 833 candidates who are contesting for 93 seats. The phase is said to be crucial for ruling BJP which had won 51 of the seats while Congress bagged 39. Three other seats went to independent candidates.

Here's how Gujarat voted in 2017

Gujarat elections: How BJP campaigned in Gujarat

As the campaigning for the last phase of the Gujarat assembly polls came to an end, the Bharatiya Janata Party has left no stone unturned in its campaigning, as it grappled with an undercurrent of support for the AAP and Congress amid mounting anti-incumbency. Flash mobs, magic shows, and raths with ‘smart’ yatra were at the heart of the party’s campaign.

Read more

Preparations underway for Gujarat Assembly second phase polling

Modi, Shah to cast votes in second phase

Prime Minister Modi will cast his vote at a polling station set up at a high school in Ranip locality in Ahmedabad city on Monday morning. Union Home Minister and BJP MP Amit Shah will cast his vote at a municipal sub-zonal office in Naranpura locality of the city.(PTI)