Second phase of Gujarat Assembly elections today
93 seats spread across central and north Gujarat are voting today in the second phase of the crucial Assembly polls in the BJP bastion.
The election this time is a three-cornered fight between the ruling BJP, Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel were among those who cast their votes early this morning. Speaking to the media, the Prime Minister thanked the Election Commission for the conduct of the polls and urged the people to step out and vote.
Chief Minister Patel, too, appealed to the people to cast their votes. Home Minister Amit Shah too cast his vote in Ahmedabad today.
The first phase of the Gujarat election on December 1 saw low turnout, prompting the Election Commission to criticise “urban apathy” among voters. A turnout of 19.2 per cent has been recorded till 11 am.
About 833 candidates are contesting across the 93 seats polling today. Among them are 16 urban seats in Ahmedabad. These seats are crucial for the BJP and it has dominated them for three decades now.