Gujarat Elections Second Phase: Voting concludes, 68.7% polling recorded
"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," PM Modi tweeted.
Polling for second and final phase across 93 constituencies in 14 districts of Gujarat is Over. A total of 851 candidates are in the fray in the final phase of the polls where 2.22 crore people are eligible to exercise their franchise. FULL COVERAGE ON GUJARAT ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS
The prime minister cast his ballot after waiting in a queue at a polling booth in a school in Sabarmati constituency of Ahmedabad district. After casting the vote at Nishan High School, he showed his inked finger to thousands of supporters who had gathered outside the school in Ranip locality of Sabaramati constituency, amid chants of "Modi, Modi".
Prominent candidates in the fray for today's battle include state deputy chief minister Nitin Patel, who is contesting from Mehsana against Jivabhai Patel of Congress. Alpesh Thakor, who joined the Congress, is seeking election from Radhanpur constituency. Lavingji Thakor of the BJP is contesting against him.
HERE ARE THE LIVE UPDATES:
6:45 pm: 68.7% polling recorded in second phase of Gujarat Assembly elections
5:00 pm: Voting for Gujarat Assembly Election ends as the second phase polling conclude
3:58 pm: Have received a complaint regarding MCC violation after casting of the vote. It is a complaint which is is more anticipatory in nature which says crowd was there and this could be a roadshow. This complaint has been given to DEO Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer on PM Modi's roadshow
3:55 pm: Delhi: Police detains Congress workers who were marching to Election Commission in protest over PM Modi's roadshow after casting his vote today
3:54 pm: We received a complaint from a person, apparently when he switched on bluetooth on his mobile phone it connected to the machine, we are checking this at every place, senior officers&observers at the spot to check this:BB Swain, Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer
3:50 pm: 47.40% voter turnout till 2 pm in phase two of Gujarat Election 2017: BB Swain, Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer
3:40 pm: Congress workers marching to Election Commission in protest over PM Modi's roadshow after casting his vote today, stopped by police outside Sardar Patel Bhawan near Patel Chowk in Delhi
3:40 pm: Security outside office of the Election Commission of India in Delhi
3:35 pm: Congress workers marching to Election Commission in protest over PM Narendra Modi's roadshow after casting his vote today, stopped by police outside Sardar Patel Bhawan near Patel Chowk in Delhi
3:35 pm: Senior BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman and Ravi Shankar Prasad to pay EC a visit and register a fresh complaint against Congress.
3:30 pm: The Election Commission has corrected the figure of voter turnout till 12 noon to 27%.
CORRECTION - 27% voting till 12 pm in second phase of Gujarat Elections 2017: EC
1:40 pm: PM's roadshow after voting in Gujarat Assembly polls is violation of model code of conduct, says Congress' Surjewala.
1:38 pm: BJP patriarch LK Advani casts his vote in Khanpur, will be leaving for Delhi shortly.
1:33 pm: Election Commission acting as captive puppet of BJP, says Congress' Surjewala.
01:25 pm: Congress targets PM over road show. "PM Modi's road show after casting vote is a clear case of violation of the model code of conduct," says Ashok Gehlot of Congress, says "EC it seems, is working under pressure from PM and PMO."
12:40 pm: 39 per cent voting recorded till 12 pm in the second phase of Gujarat elections.
12:15 pm: PM Narendra Modi casts his vote at a polling booth in a school in Sabarmati constituency of Gujarat's Ahmedabad district.
12:11 pm: PM Modi stands in queue at booth number 115 in Sabarmati's Ranip locality to cast his vote.
12:10 pm: PM Modi reaches Ahmedabad, on way to Ranip to cast his vote.
12:01 pm: Hero's welcome awaits PM Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad's Ranip.
11:50 am: "On my way to cast my vote in Ahmedabad," tweets PM Modi.
11:21 am: PM Narendra Modi will cast his vote at booth number 115 of Nishan Vidyalaya in Ranip area of Ahmedabad.
11:12 am: Congress state chief Bharatsinh Solanki casts his vote in in Anand.
10:30 am: Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel casts his vote.
10:05 am: "I appeal the voters of Gujarat to come out and vote for the development of the state and participate in the celebration of democracy," the BJP state president said.
10:05 am: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley casts his vote from Vejalpur region of Ahmedabad.
10:04 am: The prime minister will be casting his vote at Nishan Vidyalaya in Ranip area of Ahmedabad.
09:20 am: BJP chief Amit Shah casts his vote from his former state assembly constituency Naranpura.
08:30 am: PM Narendra Modi's mother Hiraben casts her vote.
08:15 am: Former Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel casts her vote.
08:00 am: Voting for 93 seats in second and last phase of Gujarat Election begins
07:36 am: Senior BJP leader LK Advani too will be in Ahmedabad to cast his vote from Khanpur area.
07:15 am: "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," PM Modi tweeted.
06:47 am: We informed Election Commission that PM Modi is going to make an attempt again to influence the elections. It is poll panel's duty to take steps. We have also submitted examples and video proofs, says Congress' Surjewala
06:45 am: Elections will be held in Banaskantha, Patan, Sabarkantha, Mehsana, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Panchmahal, Dahod, Kheda, Anand, Vadodara and Chhota Udepur districts.
06:40 am: Gujarat elections, being viewed as precursor to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, are a prestige battle for Modi, who helmed the campaign for the ruling BJP in his home state, and a litmus test for Gandhi, who spearheaded the campaign for the Congress.
06:39 am: A total of 25,575 polling booths have been set up in 14,523 places.
06:38 am: The electioneering for the second phase concluded on November 12 after Modi took a seaplane ride from the Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad to Dharoi Dam in north Gujarat, and returned after offering prayers at the famous Ambaji Temple and holding a road show.
06:37 am: On the concluding day of the campaign, Congress president-designate Rahul told reporters that there was "tremendous undercurrent" against the ruling BJP in Gujarat and predicted a victory for his party in the Assembly polls. He claimed that "public mood" had undergone a radical change with all sections of society angry with the saffron party.
6:36 am: The first phase of voting for the 182-member house, held on December 9, that covered 89 seats saw a 66.75 per cent turnout.
6:35 am: The first phase of elections in 89 constituencies on Saturday saw a 66.75 per cent turnout. The maximum voting (79.15 per cent) was seen in the tribal district of Narmada, followed by Tapi with 78.56 per cent, and the minimum (59.39 per cent) recorded in Devbhoomi Dwarka district. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 18.
6:34 am: In the 2012 assembly polls, the BJP had won 115 seats, while the Congress bagged 61.