Gujarat elections: Polling ends, 68% voter turnout in first phase
Bride-to-be Fenny Parekh arrives from her 'haldi' ceremony to cast her vote in Katargam, Surat. Polling ended at 5 pm. Photograph: (ANI)
Key Updates
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
#WATCH: Election Commission addresses media after first phase of polling ends in Gujarat https://t.co/9mxCCw2XIR
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
By the time we get final figures voting percentage may go a little higher and touch last year's figure.: Election Commission of India #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/xng48jKNMx
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
Few voters in polling booth 4 said their votes are going to some other candidate. Polling Officer said it'll be tested & if it's found to be false action will be taken against them. Those voters left without tests. There's no truth behind such reports: Bharuch District Collector pic.twitter.com/3oqJsSfWUv
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
90% samay unhone apne aap pe bhashan dia, Narendra Modi ne Narendra Modi ke baare mein bhashan dia, aur kuch bacha hi nahi! But this election is not about Modi Ji or me, it is about Gujarat's future: Rahul Gandhi in Mehsana's Vadnagar #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/s35e136Wvd
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
During the first phase of voting 1.90% of VVPATs replaced out of 24,689 units deployed. 0.37% out of the 26,865 Ballot Units and 0.38% out of the 24,689 Control Unites replaced too. #GujaratElection2017
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
No such issues reported till now. Some EVMs replaced due to errors. EVMs were updated with VVPAT, which allows people to verify their vote for 7 seconds: Yogesh Thakkar, Bhavnagar Deputy Electoral Officer on reports of faulty EVMs in 1st phase of polling in #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/czFeupn7UU
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
Gujarat: A selfie point built in Bhavnagar to attract voters to cast their vote. First phase of voting underway in the state today. #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/vjMWNU3C96
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
#WATCH EVM engineer S.Anand talks to media after visiting a polling booth in Porbandar's Thakkar plot following complaints of EVM being connected to Bluetooth, says, 'the name that you give to your Bluetooth device will be shown when it is paired to another device' #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/TivLjQXEOW
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
Election Commission team reaches polling booth in Porbandar after complaint of EVM being connected to bluetooth
A team of Election Commission reaches polling booth in Thakkar Plot, Porbandar after complaints of EVM being connected to Bluetooth #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/ETmuu73Fwk
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
Congress party has made it a practice to say EVM malfunctioned every time when they face defeat. Therefore, they are preparing ground before Dec 18 to blame their defeat on EVM: MoS PMO Jitendra Singh #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/TVNCNVhQQd
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
Jaadu ka khel hai.. 33,000 crore rupaye, aapki zameen, aapki bijli... sab gayab hogaya. Mazzaa agaya! Kisko? 5-10 udyogpatiyon ko: Rahul Gandhi in Patan's Harij #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/CHYRmTEnjS
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
Elderly people arrive to cast their vote in Bharuch's Ankleshwar.
Elderly people arrive to cast their vote in Bharuch's Ankleshwar #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/d1P6bjqJi2
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
District-wise Voting Percentage till 12 noon.
#GujaratRound1 District wise Voting Percentage till 12 noon. pic.twitter.com/yh6IdGSejd
— WION (@WIONews) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
''I want to tell all Congress leaders who are abusing me, mocking my poor family, asking who my parents are- this nation is my everything. Every moment of my time is devoted to India and 125 crore Indians,'' PM Modi said.
I want to tell all Congress leaders who are abusing me, mocking my poor family, asking who my parents are- this nation is my everything. Every moment of my time is devoted to India and 125 crore Indians: PM Modi #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/NFJPlFAOtw
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
Congress has been rejected comprehensively across the nation. Gujarat too will reject the Congress and will punish them for their politics, PM Modi in Lunavada
Congress has been rejected comprehensively across the nation. Gujarat too will reject the Congress and will punish them for their politics: PM Modi in Lunavada #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/pMDDgpWPPx
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
Around 11 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the initial two hours during polling on 89 seats of Saurashtra and South Gujarat regions in the first phase of the crucial Gujarat assembly polls.
Read the full story: 11 per cent voter turnout in first two hours
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
A total of 9.77 per cent voter turnout reported till 10 am in the first phase of voting.
Total of 9.77% voter turnout till 10 am in first phase of voting for #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/XL8VyceEC8
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
A group of Patidars protest as BJP's Reshma Patel arrives to cast her vote in Junagadh.
A group of Patidars protest as BJP's Reshma Patel arrives to cast her vote in Junagadh, #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/cLGt3QZmFQ
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
Wherever there are complaints of EVM malfunctioning, it should be dealt with immediately, says Ahmed Patel of Congress.
Wherever there are complaints of EVM malfunctioning, it should be dealt with immediately: Ahmed Patel, Congress #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/CPkE8hM6cq
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
Vipul Goti, master trainer, election commission in Surat's Varaccha says he replaced two machines and one Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). You cannot really call it a technical error he said and added that ''these are electronic items there can be some issues. Now everything is okay and voting has started.''
Have replaced two machines and one VVPAT, you cannot really call it a technical error, these are electronic items there can be some issues. Now everything is okay & voting has started: Vipul Goti, Master Trainer, Election Commission in Surat's Varaccha #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/RVF86aW4Wh
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
Congress' Arjun Modhwadia cast his vote at a polling booth in Porbandar. He is pitted against BJP's sitting MLA Babu Bokhiria.
Congress' Arjun Modhwadia casts his vote at a polling booth in Porbandar, he is contesting against BJP's sitting MLA Babu Bokhiria. #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/zltmNtIkRj
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
Faulty Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in Sardar Patel Vidyalaya booth in Surat's Varaccha was replaced today morning.
Faulty EVM in Sardar Patel Vidyalaya booth in Surat's Varaccha has been replaced #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/X6Tzu7aNCs
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel cast his vote in Bharuch's Ankleshwar and said ''Congress will win more than 110 seats.''
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel casts his vote in Bharuch's Ankleshwar, says 'Congress will win more than 110 seats' #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/V3CGobtwZ4
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
Cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara casts his vote in Rajkot's Ravi Vidayalaya booth.
Cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara casts his vote in Rajkot's Ravi Vidayalaya booth. #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/NobynWfp6P
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
A couple reaches polling booth in Bharuch's Bahumali building to cast their votes before their wedding ceremony.
A couple reaches polling booth in Bharuch's Bahumali building to cast their votes before their wedding ceremony #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/laEvfU75Zl
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani casts his vote in Rajkot. He is contesting against Congress’ Indranil Rajyaguru from Rajkot-West seat.
CM Vijay Rupani casts his vote in Rajkot. He is contesting against Congress’ Indranil Rajyaguru from Rajkot-West seat #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/d38IIAPs0v
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the voters, especially the youngsters, to turn up in large numbers and vote in the Gujarat elections.
Phase 1 of Gujarat polls begin. Urging all those voting today to turnout in record numbers and vote. I particularly call upon youngsters to exercise their franchise.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
27,158 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) being used in 24,689 polling stations in the first phase of polling.
27,158 EVMs being used in 24,689 polling stations in the first phase of #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/aHms4fnzeF
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
Rahul Gandhi tweeted today morning saying that the participation of voters is the soul of democracy. He also welcomed the first time voters and requested that the people should turn up in large numbers and vote in order to make the Gujarat election a huge success in Indian democracy.
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— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
BJP Gujarat chief Jitubhai Vaghani casts his vote in Bhavnagar today morning.
BJP Gujarat Chief Jitubhai Vaghani casts his vote in Bhavnagar #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/oHJ7ULxTj6
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
22 Apr 2025, 4:39 PM (IST)
The voting for the first phase of Gujarat Assembly election gets underway.
Also read: Gujarat election phase 1: Heavyweight candidates
Voting for first phase of #GujaratElection2017 begins. Visuals from Bharuch's Ankleshwar pic.twitter.com/gOduleVrRO
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
Voting underway in J.H. Ambani Saraswati Vidyamandir polling booth in Surat #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/f6s6ASldQE
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
Queue outside a polling booth in Surat #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/Fc7qK5LEYz
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
The voting will be held for 89 seats of Saurashtra and South Gujarat regions with a total of 977 candidates in the fray.
Over two crore people are expected to exercise their franchise in the first phase of elections in the state.
Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani has confidently said that there is no question of any challenge.
He also asked the people of Gujarat to come out in large numbers to vote.
People should come out in large numbers to vote. We are very confident, no question of any challenge: Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/o49At5Olau
— ANI (@ANI) December 9, 2017
The maximum number of 27 candidates will contest from Jamnagar Rural whereas the minimum number of 3 candidates will try their luck from Jhagadia and Gandevi in the first phase of the elections.
The prominent candidates contesting in the first phase of elections are chief minister Vijay Rupani, Shaktisinh Gohil, Indranil Rajguru and Paresh Dhanani.
The campaign for the first phase of elections in Gujarat ended on Thursday.
The campaign that started with on the development plank changed course to Ayodhya title suit, Gandhi's temple visits and his imminent elevation as Congress president.
The second phase of election will be held in 93 seats in North and Central Gujarat which is scheduled to be held on December 14.
Counting of votes will begin on December 18.