As the much-awaited Gujarat Assembly elections finally begin, 89 seats across 19 districts are up for grabs in the first phase of voting. 788 candidates are in the fray. Out of the 89 seats going to polls in the first phase, the BJP won 48 in the 2017 election, the Congress had won 40, while one seat was bagged by an independent candidate. The BJP and Congress are contesting in all the 89 seats. The new poll entrant AAP is contesting in 88 seats. Among other parties, the BSP has fielded 57 candidates, BTP 14 and CPI-M four candidates. As many as 339 independents are also in the fray in the first phase of polls.
Gujarat recorded 34.48% voter turnout till 1 pm in first phase of voting.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah led a roadshow in Sanand while campaigning for second phase of elections.
Prafulbhai More, who is scheduled to get married today, said that he postponed his wedding from morning to evening so that he could vote.
18.95% voter turnout recorded till 11 am in first phase of voting.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya interacted with villagers in Hanol before casting his vote.
Mandhatasinh Jadeja and Kadambari Devi - members of erstwhile royal family of Rajkot - cast their votes in Rajkot.
Gujarat Assembly Speaker Nimaben Acharya cast her vote at a booth in Bhuj.
Cricket star Ravindra Jadeja cast his vote in Jamnagar, appealed to people to cast ballot in large numbers. His wife is contesting as a BJP candidate.
100-year-old Kamuben Lalabhai Patel cast her vote at a polling booth in Umargam.
4.92% voter turnout was recorded in the first hour of voting, i.e. till 9 am.
CR Paatil, chief of BJP's Gujarat unit, cast his vote in Surat.
Congress MLA Paresh Dhanani carried a gas cylinder to the voting booth to highlight inflation.
State minister Purnesh Modi cast his vote at a booth in Surat.
Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel and his wife cast their vote at a polling booth in Navsari.
Rivaba Jadeja, BJP candidate and wife of cricketer Ravindra Jadeja, cast her vote in Rajkot.
Voting underway in first phase in 89 seats across 19 districts