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

11:45 AM

Gujarat elections: At many places in urban areas, people themselves were seen creating awareness and urging members of housing societies to come out and vote.

11:44 AM

Many bigwigs, including union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, state Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki and Patidar leader Hardik Patel have cast their vote.

 

Jaitley cast his vote in Ahmedabad; Nitin Patel cast his vote from the Kadi region; Solanki reached his native Mendarda village in Borsad to cast his vote and Hardik Patel cast his vote in Viramgam.

11:43 AM

Visuals from Ahmedabad's Sabarmati, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will cast his vote at booth number 115 here.

11:41 AM

Soaring Congress hopes

 

Rahul Gandhi, in his first media interaction after being elected as party president, told presspersons that there was “tremendous undercurrent” against the ruling BJP in Gujarat and predicted a victory for his party in the Assembly polls.

 

Citing quota agitations by Patidars and OBCs and Dalits as an example of rising discontent among the people, he claimed that “public mood” had undergone a radical shift with all sections of society angry with the saffron party.

11:36 AM

There were reports of skirmish in Dhanera town in the Banaskantha, where a poll official was attacked by a group, police said.

11:36 AM

There were several complaints made to the Election Commission against the electronic voting machines in and around Vadodara city. At many places, the polling was halted due to such malfunctioning.

11:35 AM

The first few hours of polling in the second and final phase of the Gujarat elections on Thursday saw very few voters following a dip in the temperature. 12 per cent voting was recorded in two hours, an official said, adding the process will pick up as the day progresses.

11:34 AM

Sitaram Yechury tweeted on BJP corruption cases: Not surprising, given the long list of scams: Sahara-Birla diaries, GSPCL, Vyapam, Rice, Chopper, Mining, Srijan, Lalit Modi. Counting.

11:31 AM

11:30 AM

11:26 AM

BJP MLA says he doesn't care about EC

 

District election authorities have issued a show-cause notice to Bhushan Bhatt, a BJP MLA from the city, for allegedly saying that he does not care about the Election Commission while offering money to those attending Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally.

 

Bhatt, whom the BJP has fielded from Jamalpur-Khadia seat this time too, was caught up in the controversy after a video, purportedly showing him making the statement, went viral yesterday, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally at the Sabarmati Riverfront.

 

He can also be heard offering petrol expenses to his supporters, and more than Rs 200 to each person they bring for the PM's rally, held on the night of December 11.

 

"Don't be under the impression that people will get just Rs 200. I know that people of this area are not rich. Just ensure a large crowd," Bhatt purportedly said.

11:23 AM

About 12 per cent voter turnout recorded in first two hours.

11:22 AM

Congress state chief Bharatsinh Solanki casts his vote in polling booth no.201 in Anand

11:17 AM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP patriarch L K Advani  among the saffron heavyweights expected to exercise their franchise in the second and final phase of Gujarat elections

11:11 AM

Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer BB Swain casts his vote in Gandhinagar.