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Gujarat election : More than 20 percent polling till noon, 70 EVMs malfunction in Surat

by IBNS 09 Dec 2017, 11:19 am

Surat, Dec 9 (IBNS) : More than 20 per cent votes were cast till noon as polling in 89 constituencies are underway in the first phase of Gujarat election is underway on Saturday, reports said.

According to reports Surat recorded maximum polling at 26 percent followed by Bharuch at 22 percent, Narmada (21), Dang (20), Tapi (19) and Navsari (16), the overall polling percentage being 20.5.

Polling was disrupted for the time being in a number of booths in Surat following glitches in voting machines. 

Reports said around  70 Electronic Voting Machines were reported to be malfunctioning in Gujarat.

However, the elections today. The Election Commission said the faulty machines have been replaced. 

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and his wife Anjali Rupani were among the first to cast their votes from Rajkot.

 The Chief Minister is contesting from Saurashtra's Rajkot-West constituency, making the affairs most high profile. 

 His main challenger is Indranil Rajyaguru, the richest man in the state assembly. 

The state election is being viewed as an acid test for both  Narendra Modi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.

While the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is fighting hard to retain their stronghold in the state, the Congress is trying to return to power after 22 years.

The Congress is fighting the election in an alliance with Hardik Patel-led Patidar Ananmat Andolan Samiti (PAAS). 

Like the Prime Minister, Rahul too urged all Gujarat voters to turn out in large numbers along with a special reference to the young generation.