Exit polls: BJP to win Gujarat comfortably; dethrone Congress in Himachal

BJP looks all set to retain majority in the 182-seat Gujarat Assembly, clean sweep in Himachal Pradesh

4:05 PM

4:02 PM

Congress leader Alpesh Thakor

 

Thakor, who spearheaded the OBC campaign in the state before formally joining the opposition party, was among the first voters to exercise their right to franchise.

 

The 40-year-old OBC leader is now the Congress candidate from Radhanpur in Patan district, where he is taking on BJP's Lavangji Thakor.

 

Thakor sounded confident about his party, which is in the opposition for over two decades, winning this election.

 

"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 change the kind of politics happening in the state.

 

"The Congress is set to form the next government that will work for the poor, farmers, women and all sections of the society," he told reporters after coming out of the polling booth.

4:01 PM

Hardik Patel's foray into politics

Arc lights are on the Patidar quota leader who seeks to embrace the state's youth the way Kejriwal drew people with his anti-corruption campaign in Delhi, and Thackeray amassed crowds with his pro-Maharasthra movement.

3:49 PM

47% Voter Turnout Till 2 pm, according to TV reports

3:35 PM

EC has become Modi's 'captive puppet': Congress

Charging the poll panel with not acting on Congress complaints against the BJP and Modi, the party said the poll panel was turning a blind eye to democratic and constitutional norms being violated by the ruling party openly.

 

The Congress denounced Modi's "roadshow" after he voted in Ahmedabad on Thursday. This, it said, was a flagrant violation of the model code of conduct.

 

"It was an election campaign. Modi's roadshow after casting vote is a clear case of violation of the model code of conduct. The Election Commission, it seems, is working under pressure from the Prime Minister and PMO," Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said.

 

"If any shame is left in the Election Commission, it should act on the Congress complaints," party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters here.

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3:23 PM

Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor cast their votes in Viramgam

Thakor, who spearheaded the OBC campaign in the state before formally joining the opposition party, was among the first voters to exercise their right to franchise. The 40-year-old OBC leader is now the Congress candidate from Radhanpur in Patan district, where he is taking on BJP's Lavangji Thakor. Thakor sounded confident about his party, which is in the opposition for over two decades, winning this election. 

Hardik Patel, who has taken a pro-Congress and an anti -BJP stance, told reporters he has appealed to his supporters to cast their votes against the saffron outfit. 

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3:05 PM

Here's what Amit Shah said after casting his vote in Ahmedabad's Naranpura:

"People should also reject those who are opposing the model of development."

"To maintain the pace of development, I appeal to people to vote in large numbers," 

Click HERE for more details

2:59 PM

Vote for 'Gujarat model', reject those opposing it, says Amit Shah

Amit Shah. Photo courtesy: @AmitShah Twitter handle

2:46 PM

Patel said BJP likely to get around 70 seats

"The BJP has already accepted defeat — that is why half of the government is out working in the elections."

Patel, who has been leading an agitation by the socially and financially privileged Patel community for reservations, dubbed his political activities as a fight also against the atrocities being inflicted on Dalits and the plight of the state's farmers. (Click HERE for full details)

2:43 PM

Congress likely to get around 100 seats, says Hardik Patel

Hardik Patel. Photo courtesy: @HardikPatel Twitter handle

2:36 PM

Surjewala then said that no matter what Modi-led BJP does, 65 million Gujaratis won't fall for their gimmicks

2:31 PM

Election Commission has abdicated its constitutional responsibility, says Randeep Surjewala

 

2:19 PM

Clashes in Savli Assembly Constituency in Vadodara between two groups, reported Indian Express

Voting suspended for sometime. 

Security personnel reach spot to control the situation.

2:03 PM

Chidambaram raps EC for issuing Rahul show cause notice

 

Congress leader P Chidambaram today asked the Election Commission why it picked on the party's president-elect Rahul Gandhi for giving media interviews while leaving out BJP leaders who did the same thing.

 

In a series of tweets, Chidambaram accused the poll panel of sleeping on the job and also asked people in Gujarat to exercise their franchise and "change" the BJP government in the state.

 

"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?" Chidambaram said.

 

"Allowing a roadshow of PM on voting day is a gross violation of code of conduct. It is an election campaign. What is the EC doing?" Chidambaram asked.

 

2:02 PM

Rahul Gandhi in Kerala

Gandhi, who is here after hectic electioneering in Gujarat, said he wanted to come to meet the families earlier. But due to prior programmes in connection with the Gujarat polls, he could not do so and expressed his apology.

 

"Some of you have lost sons, some of you lost husbands. This loss cannot be replaced...we will try to make your life as comfortable as possible," he said.