Gujarat elections LIVE: 68% voter turnout in phase 1, says EC

Gujarat election LIVE updates: BJP is seeking a fifth term in Gujarat, while Congress is attempting an electoral revival

3:13 PM

A 115-year-old woman from Upleta town of Rajkot, Aajiben Chandravadia, also voted today.

3:12 PM

After the polling process began at 8 am, people could be seen stepping out of their houses despite the cold weather and queueing up to cast votes at polling stations.

3:11 PM

Though there were reports of technical glitches in EVMs in Surat and some other centres, the polling process resumed after the machines were replaced, officials of the Election Commission said.

 

Speaking about it, Swain said, "We have received complaints of faulty EVMs from some places and all such machines have been replaced with the spare ones kept at the polling stations."

3:05 PM

Chief Electoral Officer for Gujarat B B Swain said that though voting would end at 5 pm, those standing in queue outside polling booths before the process ends, would be given a chance to cast their votes.

3:05 PM

The highest turnout of 38.07 per cent was recorded in the tribal-dominated district of Tapi, while Narmada, another tribal-dominated district in south Gujarat, recorded the lowest turnout of 25.67 per cent.

3:04 PM

As per the latest data released by the Election Commission, 30.31 per cent voters exercised their franchise between 8 am and 12 pm. The voting will end at 5 pm.

2:50 PM

Election Commission has deployed EVMs with VVPAT machines across all polling booths in Gujarat.

2:49 PM

A team of Election Commission reaches polling booth in Thakkar Plot, Porbandar after complaints of EVM being connected to Bluetooth

2:48 PM

A couple, decked in wedding attire, turned up at a polling booth in Bharuch to cast vote.

 

Several members of a 'baarat' (wedding party), including the couple, came out to vote at Bhavnagar. The bridegroom and the bride, decked in wedding finery, said they wanted to first cast their votes before heading to the marriage venue.

 

"I am here to vote for development. We decided to first cast our votes before going for wedding," said the groom Bhavesh Rana.

 

A group of monks from th Swaminarayan sect voted at a polling booth in Gondal.

2:47 PM

Young and old, brides and grooms - festival of democracy

From first-time voters to centenarians, cricketers and even brides and grooms, Gujarat saw people of various hues coming out to exercise their franchise in the first phase of assembly polls today.

 

Voters from different sections of society queued up this morning outside the polling boots in 89 seats spread over south Gujarat and Saurashtra.

 

"I have cast my vote and would appeal to all voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their democratic right," said cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara as he emerged from a booth in Rajkot.

 

He was accompanied by his father Arvind Pujara.

To read the full report, click HERE

2:42 PM

2:38 PM

Supporters' welcome Rahul Gandhi with torchlight in Anand

On December 8, Congress President Rahul Gandhi visited the milk capital of Gujarat, Anand to do a campaign for his party. Rahul's supporters cheered, "Congress ave che" (Congress will be back) with an aglow torchlight swinging in their hands.

 

Anand is known for Amul dairy and milk revolution. Yogesh Patel (Bapaji) of BJP will be contesting against Kantibhai Sodhaparmar of Congress.

2:33 PM

Why is development missing in PM's speeches: Rahul

 

The Congress is seeking to wrest power from the BJP and Gandhi has spearheaded the attack, often targeting the prime minister over the claims of development and questioning the 'Gujarat model'.

 

As polling began today for the first phase of Gujarat elections, the Congress vice president welcomed the first-time youth voters of the state and urged all to help make the festival of democracy a success.

 

"Participation of voters is the soul of democracy. Welcome all the first-time youth voters of Gujarat. Appeal to all voters to vote to help make a success of this festival of democracy," he said on Twitter.

To read full story, click HERE

2:31 PM

"BJP has its government in Gujarat for 22 years. I will only ask, what is the reason development is missing in the prime ministers speeches.

 

"I asked 10 questions on Gujarats report card but no answers came. No manifesto till the campaign for the first phase of polling ended. So, 'ab bhashan hi shasan hai' (does governance mean mere speeches now)," he asked on Twitter.

2:30 PM

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday stepped up attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking why there is no mention of development in his speeches during the Gujarat election campaign. Gandhi said he did not get an answer to even one of the 10 questions he had asked Modi on Gujarat’s report card, despite the BJP being in power in the state for 22 years and wondered if governance meant mere speeches. “BJP has its government in Gujarat for 22 years. I will only ask, what is the reason development is missing in the Prime Minister’s speeches.”