Polling for 1st phase of Gujarat assembly elections begins

Polling has begun for the first phase of assembly elections in Gujarat. Voting is taking place for 89 constituencies in Kutch, Saurashtra and South Gujarat today. Polling, which began at 8 AM, will continue till 5 in the evening. 

Over 2 crore 12 lakh voters will decide the fate of 977 candidates, including 57 women, in this phase.Prominent candidates include Chief Minister Vijay Rupani who is contesting from Rajkot (West). He is pitted against Congress' Indranil Rajyaguru. Congress leader Shaktisingh Gohil, who was a former leader of Opposition of Gujarat Assembly,



is trying his luck from Mandavi. BJP has fielded Virendrasingh Jadeja against Gohil. 

In Patidar-dominated Amreli, Paresh Dhanani of Congress is pitted against BJP heavyweight Bavkubhai Undhad, the legislator from the nearby Lathi seat.

All arrangements are in place for smooth conduct of polls. Both VVPAT machines and Electronic Voting Machines are being used on all polling booths. Tight security arrangements have been made and over 1 lakh 74 thousand police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order.