Gujarat Elections : 63.14% voters turnout in first phase, 5% lower than 2017 assembly elections

Surat (Gujarat): The first phase of the Gujarat assembly election witnessed 63.14 percent voter turnout, which is 5 per cent less compared to the last election’s figure of 68 percent.

In the first phase election, Narmada district in south Gujarat registered the  highest voter turnout at 78.24 percent, while the Botad district recorded the lowest voter turnout of 57.58 percent.

The first phase of polling was held on 89 assembly constituencies in Saurashtra and south Gujarat regions. The voting turnout till 4 pm was an average of 50 percent. The voter turnout then climbed to 56 percent by the time voting ended.

A total of 788 candidates from various political parties and independents fought it out in the first phase of the Gujarat polls in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state. Prominent candidates are Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi (Majura in Surat), Mukesh Patel, Gujarat Minister for Energy (Olpad), Purnesh Modi Gujarat Minister for Transport (Surat West), Chhotubhai Vasava seven-term MLA and founder of Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) in Jhagadia, Gujarat chief of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Gopal Italia (Katargam), Alpesh Kathiriya former Patidar agitation leader (Varachha), Paresh Dhanani (Amreli).

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been in power in Gujarat for an uninterrupted 27 years. The BJP is looking a stay in power for the sixth term, and the Congress and the new entrant AAP are also hoping for an electoral revival. The AAP is projecting itself as the main contender of the BJP in the Gujarat elections.

Looking at the voters turnout in 19 districts that went for the first phase of polling on December 1, the Kutch district recorded 59.80 percent, Surendranagar at 62.46 percent, Morbi at 69.95 percent, Rajkot at 60.45 percent, Jamnagar at 58.42 percent, Devbhumi Dwarka at 61.72 percent, Porbandar at 59.51 perent, Junagadh at 59.52 percent, Gir Somnath at 65.93 percent, Amreli at 57.59 percent, Bhavnagar at 60.82 percent, Bharuch at 66.31 percent, Surat at 62.27 percent, Tapi at 76.91 percent, Dangs at 67.33 percent, Navsari at 71.06 percent, and Valsad at 69.40 percent.