A mini roadshow in Ranip as PM Narendra Modi stands in queue, casts his vote

A huge crowd, waiting to catch a glimpse of PM Modi at the Ranip polling booth, welcomed the Prime Minister with huge cheer.

AHMEDABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday cast his vote in the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections, amid loud cheers from a crowd gathered outside the polling booth in Ranip here.

Modi was seen waiting in a queue outside the polling station to cast his vote amid heavy security.

As soon as he reached the booth, PM Modi touched his elder brother's feet and stood in the queue waiting for his turn to cast the vote. After he came out, he showed his inked finger to cameras and people alike. His voting looked nothing less than a mini-roadshow with people cheering and applauding the Prime Minister.

The prime minister walked a certain distance to greet people standing on both sides of the road outside the polling booth. Later, he stood on the foot-board of his car and waived to the crowd.

The PM then took a ride in his bullet-proof  SUV showing his inked finger to the crowd gathered on the street before leaving from the venue.

Minutes before his arrival in Ranip, the Prime Minister took to his Twitter to announce that he would be reaching Ahmedabad to exercise his franchise as his post read, "On my way to cast my vote in Ahmedabad."

A huge crowd, waiting to catch a glimpse of PM Modi, had gathered at the polling booth at the Nishan High School in the Ranip locality of Sabarmati. Thousands of people greeted the Prime Minister on his arrival with 'Modi Modi' cheer and chant as he went inside the polling booth to cast his vote.

Witnessing the pomp and show, the Congress has knocked the door of the Election Commission calling it a violation of the model of conduct. The Congress has accused Modi of holding a roadshow to influence the voters in the state.

Several other top brasses of BJP including party chief Amit Shah, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, former state Chief Minister Anandiben Patel cast their vote in Gujarat today. 

PM Modi's mother, Heeraben, who is 97-year-old, also cast her vote today at a polling booth in Gandhinagar. 

"Gujarat nu bhalu karo, (I pray to God for Gujarat's well-being)," she said at the polling station. 

Earlier today, PM Modi appealed to the voters in Gujarat to exercise their franchise in the second phase of polling that began at 8:00 am today. 

"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.

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

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% voting registered.