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

2:01 PM

Rahul visits cyclone-hit areas in Kerala

Congress President-elect Rahul Gandhi today visited some places hit by the Cyclone Ochki in southern Kerala that has claimed 66 lives, most of them fishermen, and pitched for a better warning system to prevent recurrence of such tragedies.

Addressing the families of fishermen who died in the cyclone and interacting with them, Gandhi said the state and Central governments need to learn lessons from the natural calamity, which has also left 95 fishermen missing.

"When a tragedy happens, everyone must learn from the tragedy and avoid such a situation in future. We must have a better system of warning for the fishermen who are goingto the sea," he said speaking to affected families in coastal hamlet Poonthura, near Thiruvananthapuram.

1:57 PM

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1:54 PM

Election Commission is a puppet in Modi's hands: Congress

The Congress’ attack comes a day after the Election Commission sought an explanation from party president-elect Rahul Gandhi for appearing in TV interviews ahead of the second phase of voting in Gujarat, which it said was a violation of the model code of conduct.

 

The EC, on Wednesday, also filed FIRs against TV channels that aired the interviews, saying rules prohibit display of any “election matter” within 48 hours of the start of polling.

1:53 PM

Election Commission is a puppet in Modi's hands: Congress

The Congress launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission, saying the “sinking ship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign is being saved by the poll panel”.

 

“The Election Commission of India has set different standards for the BJP and the Congress. What is the reason for the poll panel to behave like a frontal organisation of BJP,” asked Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala at a press conference in New Delhi.

 

“It is a great shame that PM Narendra Modi has turned all constitutional institutions into his puppets, the Election Commission of India being one of them,” added Surjewala.

1:50 PM

Modi rides in open jeep after casting vote, Congress says it is violation of code of conduct

1:48 PM

Congress' Randeep S Surjewala on PM Modi

People of India are watching the PM and the Election Commission today and we hope they do justice

1:47 PM

Senior BJP leader LK Advani after casting his vote

1:44 PM

Senior BJP leader LK Advani casts his vote in Ahmedabad District's Jamalpur Khadiya

1:42 PM

Congress' Randeep S Surjewala on PM Modi

Randeep S Surjewala‏: I would like the PM to understand that sea-planes and photo opportunities are not going to help in gaining votes. Gujarat is now talking on the core issues being faced by the state

1:40 PM

Expectation of voters

 

Rural and urban voters seem to differ in their expectations. While the rural people mostly desire higher price realisation for agricultural produce, better public transport and employment opportunities, the least welcome response from them comes for issues like environmental concerns, electricity for agriculture and irrigation programmes.

 

The more crucial issues for the urban voters, on the other hand, are better employment opportunities, the facility for pedestrians and cyclists on roads and the empowerment of women. The other issues include better law and order, training for jobs, security for women and traffic decongestion. 

 

A total of 1,815 candidates are contesting the Gujarat poll, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has ruled for more than 2 decades, uninterruptedly.

1:32 PM

Gujarat Dy CM confident of winning from Kadi constituency

 

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who is contesting against Congress' Jivabhai Patel from Mehsana constituency, expressed confidence of winning after casting his vote for the second-phase of Gujarat Assembly elections.

 

Speaking to media here, the deputy chief minister said, "I am very much confident today. I am contesting polls from Mehsana and my area is Kadi. People of Gujarat are with the Vikas model of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). I request people of Gujarat to come and vote in large numbers."

1:26 PM

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi is in Thiruvananthapuram's Poonthura.

"I was not here physically but in spirit I was here, I have come here to pay respects to the people who have passed away in Ochki Cyclone", he said.

1:21 PM

The Congress had complained to the Election Commission that three polling booths in Porbandar, a Muslim-dominated area, were hacked. Following an inquiry, the poll body rejected these claims.

1:20 PM

 BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha asked voters to be careful and vigilant of any 'hanky panky' while using electronic machines (EVMs) to vote in polling booths. His statement comes in the wake of allegations that EVMs were manipulated using Bluetooth technology during the first phase of polling on December 9.
 

“To get desired result & most desirable Govt. – come one & come all in maximum strength to make your long awaited dream come true. Be very careful & vigilant. Take care of any hanky panky – electronic machine or otherwise & not get a bad name. Best wishes! Jai Gujarat. Jai Hind!” the Lok Sabha MP tweeted.