Story Highlights:
- Gujarat phase 2 assembly elections underway
- 50.51 percent of voters turnout till 3 pm
- Cricketers Yusuf and Irfan Pathan cast their vote
Gujarat: The second phase of the high-voltage Gujarat assembly elections is underway. The first phase was concluded on Dec 1 where about 63% turnout of voters could be seen. Today, in its second phase, the voter turnout till 3 pm is about 50.51 percent. The voting will continue till 5 pm in the 14 districts where the fate of 93 candidates is being sealed. There has not been any massive violence in the polling stations till now. But the Congress party leaders are targeting PM Modi and accusing the Election Commission of negligence on their part during the voting phase.
Congress leader Pawan Khera accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of conducting a road show on the day of polling. He said, “On the day of polling, PM Modi did a two-and-a-half-hour roadshow while going to cast his vote. Will appeal against this to the Election Commission, it seems that the Election Commission is voluntarily under pressure.” He also raised the matter of Danta assembly constituency and further said, “Yesterday our tribal leader and MLA from Danta (Kanti Kharadi) wrote to the Election Commission demanding protection, but the Election Commission did not respond and later he was attacked by 24 BJP goons. The BJP distributed liquor in Gujarat as well, although there is a ban on liquor there, the Election Commission did not take any action on that also.”
On the other hand, Former cricketers Irfan Pathan and Yusuf Pathan along with their families were seen casting their votes in Vadodara. Yusuf also appealed to the people to actively participate in the voting process. At the same time, Irfan Pathan said, “It is our right and responsibility to vote. I have come to know that only 50% voting has been done so far, so I appeal to the people to come and increase it. I hope that our country can become a superpower in the coming times. We have youth and potential.” The result of the election will come out on Nov 8 which will decide the fate of the 182 assembly seats in the state.