Gujarat Assembly polls: 60.2% voter turnout in first phase

About 60.20% voter turnout was recorded on Thursday (December 1) across 89 Assembly seats in the first phase of Gujarat elections, according to the Election Commission (EC).

While voting began at 8 in the morning and ended at 5 pm. The fate of 788 candidates will be decided in the first phase.

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Barring a few incidents, polling was largely peaceful across all 89 seats in south Gujarat and Saurashtra-Kutch regions which went to polls in the first phase.

The voter turnout figure was provisional as data from some polling stations had not been received and it also did not include postal ballots, the EC said.

Voting was halted in a few places due to malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines as well as control units and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) but the faulty units were replaced and the process resumed, it added.

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Tapi district recorded the highest provisional voting turnout of 72.32%. The tribal-dominated district comprises two Assembly constituencies of Vyara and Nizar. With 68.09% turnout, Narmada district stood second.

Bhavnagar in Saurashtra region recorded the lowest turnout of 51.34% as of 5 pm.

Apart from Narmada, four other districts recorded over 60% voting turnout: Navsari (65.91%), Dang (64.84%), Valsad (62.46%) and Gir Somnath (60.46%).

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Polling was largely peaceful barring a few incidents of scuffles between rival groups, the EC said.

Locals protested at Dhrafa village in Jamjodhpur taluka of Jamnagar district as there were no separate polling booths for men and women.

They threatened to boycott voting, claiming that separate booths were always set up in the past.

In Junagadh, a ruckus broke out after police tried to stop a Congress leader who walked to the polling station carrying a gas cylinder on his shoulder to protest against inflation. Such protest was seen in many other places too.

The EC tweeted the picture of 104-year-old Ramjibhai who, it said, “participated in the festival of democracy by voting at the polling station instead of opting for a postal ballot.” At least 33 ballot units, 29 control units and 69 VVPATs were replaced in the first three hours of polling at different stations due to malfunctioning, the office of Chief Electoral Officer said in a statement.

104 year voter Sh Ramji Bhai participated in the festival of #democracy by voting at the polling station instead of opting for postal ballot.

His willingness & enthusiasm to vote is an inspiration for everyone!#GoCast your Vote#GujaratElections2022#GujaratAssemblyPolls#ECI pic.twitter.com/flhRUfnSMn

— Election Commission of India #SVEEP (@ECISVEEP) December 1, 2022

“Around 0.1% ballot units, 0.1% control units and 0.3% VVPATs have been replaced in three hours of voting.

“Reserve machine sets are available in all districts with the zonal officer in-charge of that area. Wherever a small or big problem occurs, arrangements have been made to replace them in no time,” it added.

Former chief minister Vijay Rupani, state BJP chief C R Paatil, Rajya Sabha member Parimal Nathwani, BJP candidate from Jamnagar (North) Rivaba Jadeja, former Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani, state Aam Aadmi Party president Gopal Italia were among those who voted early.

Voters casting their vote at Polling Station made from Shipping container in Aliabet, an isolated place in 151- Vagra AC in Bharuch.
Initiative by #ECI,to facilitate Voters who earlier had to travel far to vote as there was no govt/semi govt building available. #GujaratElections pic.twitter.com/JfeR874v1Z

— Election Commission of India #SVEEP (@ECISVEEP) December 1, 2022

While Rivaba Jadeja voted in Rajkot, her husband and cricketer Ravindra Jadeja voted in Jamnagar.

AAP’s Italia questioned the slow turnout in the initial hours.

“Voting is being deliberately slowed down in Katargam AC. @ECISVEEP If you have to work this way under the pressure of the BJP goons, then why are you holding elections? An average of 3.5 percent voting was done in the entire state but only 1.41 per cent in Katargam. Don’t stoop so low to defeat a small child,” he said in a tweet.

Voting for the second phase will be held on December 5, and counting of votes on December 8.

Proud Voters from the Siddi Community casting their #Vote at polling booths set up by #ECI in Madhupur Jambur in Gir Somnath district. #GujaratElections2022. #NoVoterToBeLeftBehind #GujaratAssemblyPolls#EveryVoteMatters pic.twitter.com/KK5WN3YcrJ

— Election Commission of India #SVEEP (@ECISVEEP) December 1, 2022

(With agency inputs)