Good turnout in second phase; voting peaceful

NEW DELHI: An estimated 63-65% of the voters cast their votes in the second and final phase of the assembly elections in the northern and central districts of Gujarat. The two regions had played a key role in the BJP’s landslide victory in 2002. The BJP had won 73 of the 95 seats from central and north Gujarat.

Chief minister Narendra Modi and several Congress heavyweights are contesting from the two regions. Mr Modi is seeking re-election from Maninagar in Ahmedabad and is pitted against Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Dinsha Patel of the Congress. Counting of votes will be taken up on December 23.

“The polling was by and large peaceful and orderly with no major incident being reported,” deputy election commissioner Jaiprakash told reporters in New Delhi.

Nearly 1.87 crore voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in Sunday’s phase, in which 599 candidates, including 31 women, were in the fray. In the first phase of polling in 87 constituencies, voting has been around 60%.
Barring a few incidents of violence and bogus voting, the polling went off peacefully with 574 central para-military companies and the state police maintaining a tight vigil in areas which witnessed the maximum rioting during the 2002 communal clashes, Mr Jaiprakash said.

BJP leader LK Advani and Mr Modi claimed the BJP would score a “historical win”, while Congress leader and Union minister Shankarsinh Vaghela said people would vote out the Modi government.

The Congress candidates in the fray in the last phase included former deputy chief minister Narhari Amin, Udaysinh Baria and Balwantsinh Rajput. Over 5,000 poll observers were posted in polling stations in key areas, and the polling process in sensitive constituencies was recorded by 6,000 video cameras, Mr Jayprakash added.

A BJP candidate, Jyanthi Ratwa contesting from Pavi-Jetpur in Vadodra district, was booked under various sections of the IPC and the Arms Act for illegal possession of arms.