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Gujarat polls: 68% turnout in first phase, EC calls EVM tampering via bluetooth report 'baseless'
The BJP and Congress are once again in poll-fray as two-phase Gujarat Assembly elections kick-off on Saturday.
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Queue outside a polling booth in Surat (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@ANI) AHMEDABAD: Voting for the first phase of Gujarat Assembly elections, covering 89 constituencies of the Saurashtra and South Gujarat regions, began at 8 am on Saturday.
A total of 977 candidates are in the fray and around 2.12 crore voters are expected to exercise their franchise.
The ruling BJP, making a bid for a fifth term, and the Congress, attempting an electoral revival, are the main contenders.
The second phase for the remaining 93 seats of the high-stakes election will be held on December 14. Gujarat has 182 assembly constituencies. The counting of votes will take place on December 18.
Here are latest updates:
Election Commission says "no bluetooth operated EVMs":
"There is no such connection of any Bluetooth or EVM. EVMs don't have receptors or wiring to facilitate that. So such reports are false"
Polling percentage till 5pm:
Morbi: 65%
Rajkot: 70%
Junagarh: 65%
Girsomnath: 70%
Amreli: 67%
Bharuch: 71%
Surat: 70%
Valsad: 70%
Polling percentage till 5pm:
Narmada: 62%
Somnath: 70%
Navsari: 75%
Botad: 60%
Surendra Nagar: 65%
Kutch: 63%
Jamnagar: 65%
Dwarka: 63%
Porbandar: 60%
Bhavnahar: 62%
Tapi: 73%
Dang: 70%
Election Commission addresses media after voting ends in Gujarat:
#WATCH: Election Commission addresses media after first phase of polling ends in Gujarat https://t.co/9mxCCw2XIR
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
Congress chief ministerial candidate for Gujarat Ahmed Patel says, "Congress will win Gujarat elections if EVMs are not tempered"
Visuals from Bhavnagar:
Gujarat: First phase of polling ends in the state, visuals from Bhavnagar #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/KzfWp6VTVJ
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
Visuals from Rajkot:
#Visuals from Rajkot: EVMs & VVPATs being sealed after first phase of polling ends in #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/3MBIGuVL42
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
Visuals from Bhavnagar:
Gujarat: First phase of polling ends in the state, visuals from Bhavnagar #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/KzfWp6VTVJ
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
Over 60% voting in Gujarat first phase, many still to vote, says CEO
BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain says Congress has already accepted its defeat before the counting and hence, is making false claim of EVM tempering
Arun Jaitley expresses gratitude over peaceful polling:
"First phase of polling has ended, we are extremely grateful to EC, the officials and voters for peaceful and successful completion of voting. I'm sure, as per the reports that are coming, that BJP is going to register a landslide victory"
Polling percentage till 4:00 pm
Somnath: 63%
Bhavnagar: 55.87%
Surendranagar: 59.14%
Amreli: 56.38%
Bharuch: 62.61%
Valsad: 60%
Rajkot: 60.32%
Surat: 60.64%
Morbi: 67.37%
Jamnagar: 56.83%
Katch: 58.14%
Tapi: 65.72%
Devbhumi Dwarka: 53.54%
Few voters in polling booth 4 said their votes are going to some other candidate. Polling Officer said it'll be tested & if it's found to be false, action will be taken against them. Those voters left without tests. There's no truth behind such reports: Bharuch District Collector
As many as 397 crorepati candidates are in the fray for the Gujarat assembly elections, says an analysis of election affidavits done by two NGOs
47.28% voter turnout recorded till 4 pm in first phase of Gujarat elections
Malfunctioning of EVM machines reported in Sattapar village in Anjar constituency
Posters with photographs of dead Patidar youth, killed during 2015 Patidar agitation, emerges in Patidar dominated areas in Surat, reading, "Don't forget the sacrifice of these martyrs and uproot the BJP"
Villagers of Limdi village in Surendranagar district boycot Gujarat elections over various grievances
Polling percentage till 2:00 pm:
Valsad: 48%
Kaprada: 42%
Tankara: 54%
Morbi: 49%
Botad: 45%
Gadhda: 39%
Umargaon: 45%
Vankaner: 53%
Jamnagar overall: 40%
Jam Jodhpur: 40%
Surat: 44%
Dang: 25-30%
Porbandar: 38 to 44%
Jamnagar: 36 to 40%
Surendranagar: 50 to 55%
Navsari: over 50%
Gujarat elections: Karnataka Governor of Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala cast his vote in Rajkot
Gujarat: Governor of Karnataka Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala cast his vote in Rajkot #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/m73EzQzIuh
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
Visual from Bhavnagar booth:
Gujarat: A selfie point built in Bhavnagar to attract voters to cast their vote. First phase of voting underway in the state today. #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/vjMWNU3C96
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
Update: Gujarat records 45.61% voting till 2 pm in first phase
Gujarat elections: During the first phase of voting 1.90% of VVPATs replaced out of 24,689 units deployed. 0.37% out of the 26,865 Ballot Units and 0.38% out of the 24,689 Control Unites replaced too
Report of faulty EVMs: Bhavnagar Deputy Electoral Officer Yogesh Thakkar says some EVMs were replaced due to errors. EVMs were updated with VVPAT, which allows people to verify their vote for 7 seconds
Though voting will end at 5pm, those standing in queue outside polling booths before the process ends, would be given a chance to cast their votes: CEO BB Swain
Highest turnout of 38.07% recorded in tribal-dominated district of Tapi; another tribal-dominated district in south Gujarat -Narmada records lowest turnout of 25.67%
Congress leader Modhwadia claimed some machines were reportedly connected to external devices via bluetooth
Inquiry ordered after Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia complaint of possible EVM tampering at 3 polling booths in a Muslim- dominated area in Porbandar, says Chief Election Officer BB Swain
Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission alleging that EVM machines at Porbandar's Sharda Mandir booth number 145, 146 and 147 are connected to other devices through Bluetooth.
37% polling recorded till 2 pm in the first phase of Gujarat Assembly elections.
A team of Election Commission reaches polling booth in Thakkar Plot, Porbandar after complaints of EVM being connected to Bluetooth #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/ETmuu73Fwk
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
Katargam(Surat): A bride to be, Fenny Parekh arrives from her 'haldi' ceremony to cast her vote #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/oGaW9skOYV
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
There is no issue, at few places where EVM machines had problems that has been resolved, machines have been replaced wherever required. Polling is going on peacefully: Harshad Patel, Bhavnagar District Collector
23 percent polling recorded till noon.
"Gujarat's economic growth is the highest in India. In the last 5 years Gujarat grew at an average rate of 10% amongst large states,” Jaitley said.
This will be a landslide victory for BJP and the win will be resounding. Congress' campaign tactics have failed: FM Arun Jaitley
A group of Patidars protest as BJP's Reshma Patel arrives to cast her vote in Junagadh, #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/cLGt3QZmFQ
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
Big names to have cast their votes include Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, state BJP chief Jitubhai Vaghani and cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara.
Polling percentage till 10 am.
A voting percentage of 9.77 was recorded in first two hours of polling.
Have replaced two machines and one VVPAT, you cannot really call it a technical error, these are electronic items there can be some issues. Now everything is okay & voting has started: Vipul Goti, Master Trainer, Election Commission in Surat's Varaccha #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/RVF86aW4Wh
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
Some EVMs have been replaced due to some issues: Election Commission
Surat, the diamond and textile hub of Gujarat, is a BJP stronghold and has 12 seats. The polls here are being seen as a referendum on notes ban and GST.
Reports of malfunctioning EVMs rock Surat.
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel casts his vote in Bharuch's Ankleshwar, says 'Congress will win more than 110 seats'.
A faulty EVM in Sardar Patel Vidyalaya booth in Surat's Varaccha has been replaced.
Cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara casts his vote in Rajkot's Ravi Vidayalaya booth. #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/NobynWfp6P
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
Surat, the diamond and textile hub of Gujarat, has 12 seats and a BJP stronghold, it is being seen as a referendum on notes ban and GST.
Voting underway on Surat's Kamrej assembly seat. BJP’s Zalavadiya Vinubhai Dahyabhai is up against Congress's Ashok Jirawala.
A couple reaches polling booth in Bharuch's Bahumali building to cast their votes before their wedding ceremony #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/laEvfU75Zl
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
Did you know the Saurashtra region, which is home to the influential Patels or Patidars, is a major political battleground and its verdict could make or break the electoral fortunes of a party.
Phase 1 of Gujarat polls begin. Urging all those voting today to turnout in record numbers and vote. I particularly call upon youngsters to exercise their franchise.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 9, 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the voters, particularly the youngsters, to cast their votes in the assembly elections.
CM Vijay Rupani casts his vote in Rajkot. He is contesting against Congress’ Indranil Rajyaguru from Rajkot-West seat #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/d38IIAPs0v
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
Gujarat's Saurashtra and Kutch regions which are voting in the first phase have the maximum number of constituencies and are crucial to give parties a good head start.
"We are going to win 150+ seats under the leadership of PM Modi ji, we face no obstacles," asserts Jitu Vaghani, BJP Gujarat Chief and candidate from Bhavnagar West, after casting his vote.
Visuals of locals after casting their vote in Surat's Majura. BJP MLA Harsh Sanghvi is contesting against Congress's Ashok Kothari. This seat was formed after the 2008 delimitation. #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/zWTV4fq7I6
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
I appeal to the people of Gujarat to make this festival of democracy successful by voting in large numbers: Rahul
The participation of voters is the soul of democracy. I congratulate the young colleagues who are voting for the first time in Gujarat elections, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet message after the polling started.
A total of 27,158 EVMs are being used in 24,689 polling stations in the first phase of Gujarat Assembly Elections.
Voting underway on Surat's Choryasi assembly seat. Here BJP's Jhankhnaben Patel is up against Congress's Yogeshbhai B. Patel.
BJP Gujarat chief Jitubhai Vaghani casts his vote in Bhavnagar.
The first phase of polling, covering 89 constituencies, spreads across 19 districts. While the ruling BJP holds the maximum of 67 seats, the Congress 16, and the remaining seats are held by smaller parties and Independents.
People should come out in large numbers to vote. We are very confident, no question of any challenge: Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/o49At5Olau
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
Voting for first phase of #GujaratElection2017 to begin shortly. Visuals from polling booth no 62 in Rajkot pic.twitter.com/ju40GxFM1d
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
The maximum candidates contesting on a seat from Jamnagar Rural are 27, while minimum are 3 from Jhagadia and Gandevi.
Voting for first phase of #GujaratElection2017 to begin shortly. Visuals from Piraman village polling booth no.171 in Bharuch's Ankleshwar pic.twitter.com/QmjaAaFl13
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
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