TNI Bureau: Voting on 87 constituencies for the first phase of Gujarat Assembly elections began today at 8 am. As many as 846 candidates are in fray in this phase. Ruling BJP has fielded candidates on all 87 seats for this first phase of the poll, whereas Congress is contesting on 84 seats and Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) on 83 seats.
Out of total 1,81,77,953 voters, there are 95,75,278 males, 86,02,557 females and 118 other voters who are likely to use their franchise.
The Election Commission (EC) has made robust security arrangements to ensure that voting is carried out peacefully by deploying security forces in the areas going to polls in first phase.
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EC has set up 21,261 polling stations and accommodated the same number of electronic voting machines (EVMs) for the poll.
The voters will decide the fate of many state political big-wigs who are contesting elections like Keshubhai Patel, assembly speaker Ganpat Vasava, Gujarat BJP president RC Faldu, state Congress president Arjun Modhwadia and leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil.
The second phase of the voting for the remaining 95 seats will be held on December 17. The results will be declared on December 20.