Guj elections: PM, other heavyweights cast their votes

Ahmedabad, Dec 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday exercised his franchise in Ahmedabad’s Ranip area for the second phase on the Gujarat Assembly elections.

Huge crowds were gathered near the polling booth to welcome the Prime Minister. While on way to the booth, his supporters were chanting “Modi Modi”.
After voting, he walked around half a kilometre with waiving hands to both the sides, where the locals were gathered to give him a rousing welcome.
Also, he conducted a roadshow over a kilometre, showing his inked finger.
The party has fielded its sitting MLA Arvind Patel against Congress' Jitubhai Patel from the Sabarmati seat.
Earlier in the day, BJP president Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Hardik Patel, Congress’ Shaktisinh Gohil cast their votes at their polling booths in their respective constituencies.
"I appeal to the voters of Gujarat to come out and vote for the development of the state and participate in the celebration of democracy," the BJP President said.
The voting will continue till 1700 hrs in more than 25,000 polling stations.
In the second and final phase of elections, 93 constituencies spread across 14 districts in north and central Gujarat will go to the polls.
A total of 851 candidates are in the fray and over 2.22 lakh people will take part in the election to decide their fate.
The security has been beefed up in various parts of the state in the wake of the elections.
The BJP has fielded 93 candidates for this phase, while Congress has fielded only 91.
The voter turnout in the first phase of the polls was recorded around 67 per cent.
The results will be declared on December 18.
In the 2012 assembly polls, the BJP won 115 seats, while the Congress bagged 61. UNI