Counting of votes for the crucial Assembly elections in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home State of Gujarat has begun at 37 locations across 33 districts. Exit polls have favoured the BJP to win with a comfortable majority.
In Gujarat, the BJP is seeking a sixth straight term, having captured power in the mid-nineties, while the Opposition Congress is seeking to stage a comeback with a spirited campaign led by Rahul Gandhi.
The elections also catapulted young leaders in the State — Jignesh Mevani, Alpesh Thakor and Hardik Patel — from social activism to politics.
Over 2000 candidates are in the fray for 182 seats. Later, the Assembly will get one nominated member, making the total strength to 183.
An average 68.41 per cent polling was recorded in the polls.
All data are from the Election Commission of India.
Live updates:
Upbeat over the initial leads, Congress spokesman Manish Doshi has said: "We are sure of winning Gujarat." Congress has been out of power in the western State for over two decades.
As per the initial trends, Patidar impact is huge in Gujarat. In Patidar pockets, like Morbi, Tankara, Mehsana, Dhoraji, Patan, Unjha Congress is leading, reports Mahesh Langa.
The Congress clinched a deal with young Patidar leader Hardik Patel, who pledged his support to the party.
Chief Minister Rupani trails behind Congress in Rajkot West
Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP leader Vijay Rupani is trailing behind Congress candidate Indranil Rajyaguru from Rajkot West, as per the initial trends, according to news agency PTI.
Rajyaguru secured 1,258 votes while Mr. Rupani got 491 votes after the end of first round of counting, as per election officials at the counting centre.
Congress giving a tough fight to BJP
Barely 10 minutes into the counting, the contest appears neck and neck. The BJP and Congress are leading in 17 constituencies each.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, both are trailing, according to information coming from the counting centres, reports Mahesh Langa. Mr. Rupani is trailing by 900 votes.
In Visavadar, where Keshubhai Patel of Gujarat Parivartan Party had won in 2012, Congress's Ribadiya is currently leading with a margin of 1,253 votes. In Palitana, Congress's incumbent Rathod Pravinbhai Jinabhai is trailing behind BJP's Baraiya Bhikhabhai Ravajibhai.
In Dhaboi, Siddarth Chimanbhai Patel, son of former Chief Minister of Gujarat Chimanbhai Patel, is trailing by 1581 to BJP.
BJP takes the initial lead
The BJP is leading in six out of nine constituencies at the moment.
According to initial trends, BJP is leading in Bhavnagar Rural, Nadiad, Bhavnagar East, Porbandar, Umbergaon and Umbergaon while Congress is leading in Mahudha, Mandvi and Talaja.
In Talaja, where BJP's Shyal Bhartiben Dirubhai won in 2014, Congress's Kanubhai Mathurambhai Baraiya is currently leading with 1865 margin.
Gujarat’s Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel is trailing in initial trend from Mehsana constituency, reports Mahesh Langa. Mehsana was the epicentre of the Patidar quota agitation.
Congress has fielded veteran Jivabhai Patel here.
Stock traders are keeping a close watch on Gujarat polls. Market is likely to soar with opening as BJP is comfortably ahead as per the initial trends, says Mahesh Langa.
Congress leading in Mandvi , BJP in Porbandar
Congress is leading in Mandvi (Constituency No. 157), Chaudhari Anandbhai Mohanbhai leads by 2013 votes. In 2012, the Congress won the seat by a margin of 24,394 votes. Congress is leading in Nadiad too.
The BJP has established a marginal lead in Porbandar and Bhavnagar East.
Parties have arranged mobile television booths in several prominent roads. Gujarati channels are reporting BJP is leading in 69, while Congress in 45. But Election Commission is yet to officially announce the trends.
EVMs can't be tampered with: CEC
On the day of counting, Chief Election Commissioner A.K. Joti has reiterated that the electronic voting machines are safe and cannot be tampered with. In an interview to news gency ANI, Mr Joti said, the voters could check if their votes went to the candidate of their choice since the VVPAT was in place. The voters had no complaints, he claimed.
Counting of votes have begun at 37 locations across 33 districts. Postal ballots will be counted first, followed by Electronic Voting Machine. The VVPAT or voter verified paper audit trial is used this time.
The Supreme Court rejected an “11th hour” plea by Secretary, Gujarat Pradesh Congress, to direct the Election Commission of India to count and cross-verify at least 25% of Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) paper trail with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) votes polled in the State Assembly elections. A three-judge Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud refused to entertain the plea, saying that the judiciary cannot question the discretion of the Election Commission (EC) to restrict the exercise to just one random booth per constituency. “How can the court substitute the discretion of the Election Commission? And why have you put the margin at 25%? Why not 5% or 10% or even 30%? We cannot encroach into the Election Commission’s authority,” Justice Chandrachud orally observed.
Key contests
A look at key contests in Gujarat
Rajkot West: BJP's Vijay Rupani vs. Congress's Indranil Rajyaguru.
Mr. Rupani is the current chief minister of Gujarat, while Mr. Rajyaguru is the second richest candidate.
Vadgam: Jignesh Mevani vs. Vijay Chakravarti
Backed by the Congress, Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani is contesting as an independent candidate. Mr. Chakravarti is a known local face who joined BJP two years back.
Mehsana: Nitin Patel vs. Jivabhai Patel
Mehsana was the epicentre of the Patidar quota agitation. It's a no brainer why both the BJP and Congress have fielded Patel candidates. While BJP's Nitin Patel is the current Deputy Chief Minister, Congress has fielded a sitting parliamentarian and a party veteran.
Bhavnagar West: Jitu Vaghnani vs. Dilipsinh Gohil
Mr. Vaghani is the Gujart BJP president, while Mr. Gohil is a former Congress MLA.
Porbandar: Babu Bokhiria vs. Arjun Modhvadia
Mr. Bokhiria is the Water Resources Minister and Mr. Modhwadia, a former GPCC president. They are fighting for the Porbandar seat once again.
Re-polling held at six booths
A woman leaves a booth after vote in Ahmedabad. | Photo Credit: Vijay Soneji
Re-polling was held at six polling booths in four Assembly constituencies, following an Election Commission directive. The polling was held at two booths each in Vadgam and Savli constituencies and one each in Viramgam and Daskroi. While the Chhaniyana 1 and 2 booths of the Vadgam seat clocked a 74% and 73% turnout, respectively, booth number 27 in Viramgam recorded 83%, Chief Electoral Officer B.B. Swain said.
Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani is contesting from the Vadgam (SC) seat as an Independent candidate supported by the Congress.
The Nava Naroda booth of the Daskroi seat registered a 73% turnout, while the Nhara and Sankrada booths in the Savli constituency registered 71% and 75% respectively.
The poll panel, however, did not specify the reason for the fresh polling at these six booths.
EC withdraws notice to Rahul
Last night, the Election Commission withdrew the show-cause notice to newly elected Congress president Rahul Gandhi in connection with his interviews to TV channels ahead of the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections on December 14.
Counting at 37 locations
“Counting of votes will be held at 37 locations across 33 districts in the State under elaborate security arrangements,” Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer B.B. Swain has said.
Following the exit poll results which predicted a majority for the BJP, several leaders in Gujarat from the Congress, Patidar leader Hardik Patel and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, raised the issue EVMs being hacked. Posting on Twitter, Mr. Patel on December 17 said, “If a human body, made by God, could be tampered with, then why not an EVM, which is made by humans?” He also alleged that there had been attempts to hack EVMs using its “source code” in the Patidar-dominated and tribal areas of the State.
Also read: All eyes on Gujarat