Amit Shah votes in same area where he was once BJP booth manager

Amit Shah, 53, voted in an area - Naranpura – where he was once assigned the task of managing a booth in the 1080s.

Ahmedabad: The polling in the second and final phase of assembly elections in Gujarat was unique in many ways. First, it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who chose to stand like an ordinary voter in a queue to cast his vote, and then BJP chief Amit Shah went to cast his vote in an area where he was once a booth manager for his party.

According to reports, the BJP national president today went to a booth in Ahmedabad along with his wife, Sonal, and his son, Jay Shah, to cast his vote in the final phase of polls in Gujarat.

A local BJP MLA from Telangana had posted a picture of Amit Shah on Twitter with a caption that ''this can happen only in BJP''.

It can happen only in BJP. @AmitShah ji votes in the same area where he once worked as a party karyakarta & as a booth incharge, later becoming an MLA from the same area before becoming RS MP and party president. It is possible only in @BJP4Indiahttps://t.co/L7pqPU5LoH — G.Kishan Reddy,MLA. (@kishanreddybjp) December 14, 2017

Shah, 53, voted in an area - Naranpura – where he was once assigned the task of managing a booth in the 1080s.

Booth managers are usually tasked with the job of mobilising party supporters and ensuring that they show up on voting day. Booth managers, with the support of polling agents, also keep a close tab on any irregularities during voting and alert election officials if any problem arises on behalf of their party. 

Amit Shah, who is considered as the BJP's 'Chankya', had represented Naranpura constituency in the Gujarat State Assembly for several years before he was elected to the Rajya Sabha in August.

In 2012, Shah contested from the same constituency. 

After casting his vote, Shah said, "The people should vote in large numbers to give a befitting reply to those opposing the Gujarat model." 

He then went to a temple with his family members. 

Before moving to Naranpura constituency in 2012, Shah was elected as an MLA from Sarkhej in four consecutive elections: 1997 (by-election), 1998, 2002 and 2007. 

Naranpura seat came into existence after 2008 delimitation.

This is totally urban seat. BJP has fielded Patel Kaushikbhai Jamnadas against Congress candidate Patel Nitinbhai Kantibhai.

After an acrimonious campaign, voting for the second and final phase of the Gujarat assembly elections was held today in 93 seats of north and central Gujarat.

The election is being seen as a "prestige battle" for Modi and a litmus test for the leadership of Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi.

The votes will be counted on December 18. 

Interestingly, a majority of exit polls today gave a thumbs-up to the BJP in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. 

With PTI inputs