Voting under way for 89 seats in first phase of Gujarat Assembly elections
4.92 percent voter turned recorded till 9 am in the first phase
Rahul Gandhi’s appeal to voters
GANDHINAGAR: Polling began at 8 am on Thursday for the first phase of Gujarat assembly elections in 89 seat out of the total 182 seats across 19 districts of Saurashtra-Kutch region and southern parts of the state.
During the polling, Amreli Congress MLA Paresh Dhanani came out of the house carrying a cylinder on a bicycle for voting.
News agency ANI has shared its video.
#WATCH | Amreli: Congress MLA Paresh Dhanani leaves his residence, to cast his vote, with a gas cylinder on a bicycle underscoring the issue of high fuel prices.#GujaratAssemblyPolls pic.twitter.com/QxfYf1QgQR
— ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2022
Paresh Dhanani says that he has chosen this method to draw attention to the rising fuel prices. He says that he is sure that the whole of Gujarat will also vote on this issue.
As the voting for the first phase of the Gujarat assembly elections began on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon people, especially first-time voters to come out in large numbers to exercise their franchise, “Today is the first phase of the Gujarat elections. I call upon all those voting today, particularly first-time voters to exercise their franchise in record numbers,” PM Modi said in a tweet.
Today is the first phase of the Gujarat elections. I call upon all those voting today, particularly first time voters to exercise their franchise in record numbers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 1, 2022
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s appeal to voters and twitted, “There is an appeal to all the brothers and sisters of Gujarat, vote
गुजरात के सभी भाई बहनों से अपील है, वोट करें…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 1, 2022
रोज़गार के लिए
सस्ते गैस सिलेंडर के लिए
किसानों की कर्ज़ा माफी के लिए
गुजरात के प्रगतिशील भविष्य के लिए, भारी संख्या में मतदान करें और लोकतंत्र के इस पर्व को सफल बनाएं।#કોંગ્રેસ_આવે_છે
For employment
Cheap gas cylinder
For loan waiver of farmers
For the progressive future of Gujarat, vote in large numbers and make this festival of democracy a success”.
Aam Aadmi Party National convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also appeal to the voters and twitted, “Voting is being held on 89 seats in the first phase of Gujarat elections today. My appeal to all the voters of the assembly constituencies where voting is taking place in Gujarat today- “You have a golden opportunity, do vote for the better future of Gujarat and your children, do something big this time.”
गुजरात चुनाव के पहले चरण में आज 89 सीटों पर मतदान हो रहा है। गुजरात में आज जिन-जिन विधानसभा क्षेत्रों में वोटिंग है वहाँ के सभी मतदाताओं से मेरी अपील- “आपके पास सुनहरा मौक़ा आया है, गुजरात और अपने बच्चों के बेहतर भविष्य के लिए वोट ज़रूर देकर आइए, इस बार कुछ बड़ा करके आइए।”
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 1, 2022
While, Union home minister Amit Shah appeal to the voters and said, “In the last two decades, Gujarat has become synonymous with development and peace, which every Indian is proud of. But this was possible because of the strong government elected by the people of Gujarat. I appeal to the voters of the first phase to vote with unprecedented enthusiasm and numbers to continue this development journey.
पिछले दो दशकों में गुजरात विकास और शांति का पर्याय बना है जिसपर हर भारतीय को गर्व है। लेकिन यह गुजरातवासियों द्वारा चुनी मजबूत सरकार के कारण संभव हो पाया।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 1, 2022
मैं प्रथम चरण के मतदाताओं से अपील करता हूँ कि इस विकासयात्रा को जारी रखने के लिए अभूतपूर्व उत्साह और संख्या में मतदान करें।
Among prominent candidates, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel is contesting from Ghatlodia, AAP chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi from Khambhaliya, BJP candidate Hardik Patel from Viramgam, Alpesh Thakor (BJP) from Gandhinagar South. AAP state president Gopal Italia is contesting from Katargam constituency, Gujarat home minister (state) Harsh Sanghavi from Majura, Rivaba Jadeja from Jamnagar North, former Gujarat minister Parshottam Solanki from Bhavnagar Rural, Kunwarji Bavaliya from Jasdan, Kantilal Amrutiya from Morbi and Jayesh Radadiya from Jetpur.
Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) candidate from Vansda, Piyush Patel was allegedly attacked by unknown miscreants late on Wednesday, ahead of voting that got under way on Thursday for the first phase of Gujarat elections. Patel alleged that he was travelling from Pratapnagar to Vandervela village with his supporters and was attacked. The miscreants, he alleged, pelted stones and attempted to vandalise his car. Patel sustained injuries on his head and was admitted to the hospital with injuries.
The BSP has fielded 57 candidates, BTP 14 and CPM four candidates. As many as 339 independents are also in the fray in the first phase.
The voting is being held across 14,382 polling stations, of which 3,311 are in the urban and 11,071 in rural areas, according to the report.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are contesting in all 89 seats. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP is contesting in 88 seats. Its candidate from Surat East constituency had withdrawn his candidature, leaving the party with one less seat to contest in the first phase.
About 4.92 voter turnout recorded till 9 am in the first phase.
However, Voting for the second phase will be held on December 5 and the results will come on December 8.