Gujarat Election 2017 Highlights: Voter Turnout 68.7%, Less Than Overall Turnout In 2012

Voting ends, voter turnout 68.3, less than overall 71.3 in 2012

Barring few minor incidents, polling was held peacefully in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017, Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha told reporters after voting ended at 5 pm. The turnout at the close of voting was 68.3 per cent, which is lower than 71.3 overall voter turnout in the last assembly elections in 2012. Now all eyes are on exit polls that are forecasting a BJP win in Gujarat.

Early exit polls suggest BJP win

India TV's exit poll shows the BJP sweeping Saurashtra and Kutch (winning about 34 of 54 seats). A similar result for the same region is predicted by news channel ABP. Himachal Pradesh, with a total of 68 seats, is easily won by the BJP, says the India Today exit poll.

As voting ends in Gujarat, all eyes on exit polls

The sluggish voter turnout in the first few hours due to the winter chill gave way to visible enthusiasm as the day progressed in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017, news agency IANS reported. Long queues of men and women were seen outside polling booths almost everywhere. But with the stakes high in Gujarat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress were locked in a war of words after Prime Minister Narendra Modi voted in Ahmedabad and then went around the area, showing his inked finger with the voter mark. A furious Congress complained to the Election Commission that PM Modi held a roadshow in Ranip area for the Gujarat assembly polls.



BJP supporters wait to see Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad. (AFP)

As voting ends in Gujarat, all eyes on exit polls

The sluggish voter turnout in the first few hours due to the winter chill gave way to visible enthusiasm as the day progressed in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017, news agency IANS reported. Long queues of men and women were seen outside polling booths almost everywhere. But with the stakes high in Gujarat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress were locked in a war of words after Prime Minister Narendra Modi voted in Ahmedabad and then went around the area, showing his inked finger with the voter mark. A furious Congress complained to the Election Commission that PM Modi held a roadshow in Ranip area for the Gujarat assembly polls.

Early exit polls claim BJP will win Gujarat

The BJP will win Gujarat and retain power in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to the first exit poll which is available at this time. The data will change as the results of more exit polls arrive. The people of Gujarat voted today in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017. 2.2 crore people are eligible to vote in the Gujarat assembly elections, according to the Election Commission. The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for the last 22 years.



A polling station in Vadodara where all the staffers are women.

Voting ends in second phase of Gujarat assembly elections 2017

Voting has ended in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017. Voter turnout was 11.7 per cent till 10 am, which climbed to 47.40 per cent at 2 pm. The overall voter turnout at the close of voting will be known in a short while. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who cast his vote in Sabarmati, walked among a crowd of supporters who chanted "Modi, Modi", which the Congress alleged was the same as holding a roadshow.



A man gets his finger marked with ink after casting his vote in Charodi village in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017 (AFP)

Sensex end higher; Gujarat exit polls in focus

Shares rose today, rebounding from two days of losses, after the US Federal Reserve raised rates but kept its outlook unchanged, although caution lingered ahead of the release of exit polls of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017, news agency Reuters reported. The benchmark BSE Sensex closed up 0.59 per cent at 33,246.7 while the broader NSE Nifty ended 0.58 per cent higher at 10,252.1. The indexes fell as much as 0.50 per cent each earlier in the day.

Will wait for real results, says Omar Abdullah

"I don't know what the exit polls are going to say but I do know they've been wrong more times than they've been right so I'll just wait for the real results on the 18th," former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted today as the people of Gujarat voted in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017. 2.2 crore people were eligible to vote in the Gujarat assembly elections.

Congress workers protest outside Election Commission's office

Congress workers are protesting outside the Election Commission's commission office. The EC said it is looking into the Congress's complaint and "will take action if necessary". A BJP delegation led by senior party leader and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will meet the Election Commission shortly. "The grapes are sour so the Congress is making such allegations against the Election Commission," said the BJP's Bhupendra Yadav.

Got complaint over Bluetooth, says election official

"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 and observers are at the spot to check this," said BB Swain, Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer. Voting in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017 will close at 5 pm. Voter turnout is 47.4 per cent till 2 pm.

Voting underway in Godhra

People stand in queue to cast their vote at a polling station in Godhra in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017. Voting started at 8 am and will end at 5 pm. The turnout in the Gujarat assembly polls till noon was 29.3 per cent, according to the Election Commission. 2.22 crore voters are eligible to vote in the Gujarat elections. The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for the past 22 years.

OBC campaign leader Alpesh Thakor votes in Patan

Congress leader Alpesh Thakor has cast his vote in Ahmedabad in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017. Alpesh Thakor, 40, who spearheaded the OBC campaign in Gujarat before joining the Congress, was among the early voters today. Mr Thakor is contesting on a Congress ticket on the Radhanpur seat in Patan district, where he is taking on BJP's Lavangji Thakor. "It is a matter of happiness for me that I was the first voter to cast vote at my polling booth. We are committed to changing the kind of politics happening in the state," he said as he came out of the booth after voting, news agency PTI reported.

Congress likely to get 100 seats: Hardik Patel

Patidar or Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel said the ruling BJP in Gujarat was set to lose the Gujarat assembly elections 2017, and that the Congress was likely to get around 100 seats in the 182-member house, news agency IANS reported. "Official files have already started disappearing from the state Secretariat," Hardik Patel told reporters after casting his vote in Viramgam in Ahmedabad district in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017. Hardik Patel said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was likely to get 70 seats. "The BJP has already accepted defeat -- that is why half of the government is out working in the elections." The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for the past 22 years. "People should vote to throw out the arrogant from power in Gujarat," he said, reported IANS.



Hardik Patel meets supporters after casting his vote in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly polls today.

Respect constitutional bodies, says BJP

The BJP has criticised the Congress for what it says questioning a constitutional body, after the Congress alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi took out a roadshow in Ahmedabad today after casting his vote in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017. "They (Congress) want to question a constitutional body. We condemn it. We believe that constitutional bodies must be respected. This is the responsibility of every party. The language used by the Congress is condemnable," BJP national general secretary Bhupendra Yadav told reporters.

Congress alleges PM Modi held roadshow

"Election Commission has abdicated its constitutional responsibility. A desperate Prime Minister facing defeat in Gujarat holds a Road Show with BJP flags, Flagrantly Flouts the Constitution and Code of Conduct," Congress legislator and communications in-charge Randeep S Surjewala tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after casting his vote in Ahmedabad in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017, had waved his inked finger as he walked among a crowd that was chanting "Modi, Modi".

BJP's "full fledged campaign on polling day", says P Chidambaram

Congress leader P Chidambaram accused the Election Commission of allowing a roadshow of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad, saying it is a gross violation of rules and that the Commission was "sleeping on the job", news agency PTI reported. "It is an election campaign. What is the EC doing?" he tweeted, reacting to PM Modi displaying his inked finger while moving about on an Ahmedabad road after casting his vote in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017.
"Yesterday, PM made a speech. BJP's President gave an interview. Railway Minister gave an interview. Why have all these escaped the EC's attention? Why pick on only Mr Rahul Gandhi's interview?" P Chidambaram tweeted.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets supporters after casting his vote in Ahmedabad in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017.

LK Advani casts his vote in Ahmedabad

Senior BJP leader LK Advani casts his vote in Ahmedabad district's Jamalpur Khadiya in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017. The BJP is hoping to retain Gujarat for the fifth term as it has been in power in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the past 22 years. Voting in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly polls will end at 5 pm. Voter turnout till 10 am was 11.7 per cent.

Sensex edges down ahead of exit poll

Shares fell today as investors waited for early forecasts on the Gujarat assembly elections 2017, with sentiment also muted as inflation ticked higher and industrial output weakened, news agency Reuters reported. Bonds and the rupee, however, rose after the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates. Votes from the Gujarat assembly polls will be counted on December 18, but markets were on edge ahead of exit polls due later today.



Brokers trade at their computer terminals at a stock brokerage firm in Mumbai (Reuters)

Amit Shah was booth manager in area where he voted today

BJP chief Amit Shah shows the victory sign after voting at a booth in Ahmedabad along with his wife, Sonal, and his son, Jay Shah, in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017. Mr Shah, 53, voted in an area that he has long links to -- in the 80s, he was assigned, in the BJP tradition, of managing a booth in the same precinct. Booth managers are tasked with ensuring party supporters are contacted ahead of the election to ensure they show up on voting day.

Got two complaints of Bluetooth, says election official

"We have received two complaints regarding presence of Bluetooth in polling booths in Ghatlodia and Mehsana. We sent observers to the spot," Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer BB Swain said. Even in the first phase of the Gujarat assembly polls held on December 9, election officials had looked into complaints that Bluetooth signals were seen in some polling stations in Gujarat.