Gujarat assembly elections: 49% voter turnout recorded till 2 pm

AHMEDABAD: The second phase of ongoing Gujarat assembly elections has recorded a voter turnout of 49% till 2 pm. 

Elections are being held in Banaskantha, Patan, Sabarkantha, Mehsana, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Panchmahal, Dahod, Kheda, Anand, Vadodara and Chhota Udepur districts in the northern and central regions. 

The first phase of polling for 89 seats in the 182-seat state assembly was held on December 9 with over 60 percent voting registered. 

Voting began in 93 assembly constituencies across 14 districts in northern and central regions at 8 am and will continue till 5 pm. There are 851 candidates in the fray.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President-designate Rahul Gandhi appealed to voters in Gujarat to exercise their franchise in the second phase of polling.

"Today is Phase 2 of the Gujarat elections. I request all those voting today to vote in record numbers and enrich this festival of democracy," Modi said in a tweet.

"The ushering in of a new Gujarat has already begun. Your one vote will strengthen and empower the foundations of democracy. I appeal to the people of the state to vote more and more for a bright tomorrow," Gandhi tweeted. 

The security has been increased in various parts of the state in the wake of the polls.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded 93 candidates for this phase, while Congress has fielded only 91.

The voter turnout in the first phase of the polls was 68%. The results will be declared on December 18.

In the 2012 assembly polls, the BJP won 115 seats, while the Congress bagged 61.