Gujarat: Phase 1 of the Gujarat assembly elections began today. Voters from across the state have gathered at the polls to cast their votes. The voting started at around 8 am with tight security arrangements. The polling will be done for 89 constituencies in 19 districts throughout the state. The approximate number of voters from the state is estimated to be 2.4 crores and the total number of candidates is 788 including that of all parties. The voting is expected to conclude by 5 pm today.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has urged the people to vote in large numbers. “In the last two decades, Gujarat has become synonymous with development and peace, which every Indian is proud of. But this was possible because of the strong government elected by the people of Gujarat. I appeal to the voters of the first phase to vote with unprecedented enthusiasm and numbers to continue this development journey,” he tweeted.
Apart from him, Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi who is currently on Bharat Jodo Yatra in MP has also promised Gujarat voters some facilities that they are ready to provide if they come to power. Rahul said, “There is an appeal to all the brothers and sisters of Gujarat, vote…for employment, cheap gas cylinder, for loan waiver of farmers, for the progressive future of Gujarat, vote in large numbers and make this festival of democracy a success.”
On the other hand, Delhi AAP CM Arvind Kejriwal said that this is a “golden opportunity” for the people of Gujarat to elect wisely and vote for a better future. Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel also appealed to the people to vote in large numbers. He said that he had a talk with the PM regarding the elections. The phase 2 voting will be on Nov 5 and the results will come out on Nov 8.