Gujarat records 68% Polling in First Phase

ONI Bureau: As per the Election Commission, Gujarat has recorded 68% polling in the first phase against 71.32% polling in 2012. However, the EC is hopeful that once the final data is collected from all regions, the 2012 figure can be matched.

Amidst the allegations of EVM malfunctioning and tampering allegations, 89 seats in the state went to polls. In 2012, BJP had won 66 out of these seats. However, Congress is hopeful of doing much better than last time, riding high on anti-incumbency, GST, caste equations and Rahul Gandhi’s whirlwind campaign.

Poll boycott was reported from Gajadi village in Morbi district in Gujarat, as the locals alleged water shortage and said neither the government nor the opposition took up their cause.

In the first phase, fate of Chief Minister Vijay Rupani (Rajkot West) Senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil (Mandvi) was sealed in the EVM.