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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Gujarat election first phase LIVE: 68% voter turnout amid complains of EVM tampering via bluetooth
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Gujarat election first phase LIVE: 68% voter turnout amid complains of EVM tampering via bluetooth

89 constituencies go to polls in the first phase of Gujarat elections today. Here are the latest updates and developments

As many as 21,231,652 people are expected to exercise their franchise at 24,689 polling booths in first phase of Gujarat elections. Photo: ANI/TwitterPremium
As many as 21,231,652 people are expected to exercise their franchise at 24,689 polling booths in first phase of Gujarat elections. Photo: ANI/Twitter

OTHERS :After a high-pitched campaigning by BJP’s Narendra Modi and Congress’s Rahul Gandhi, polling in the first phase of Gujarat elections, started at 8am on Saturday. As many as 977 candidates are in the fray to get elected from 89 of the total 182 constituencies in the state. The seats are spread out over 19 districts of Kutch, Saurashtra and South Gujarat.The polling will end at 5pm. As many as 21,231,652 people are expected to exercise their franchise at 24,689 polling booths. Here are the latest updates and developments from the first phase of Gujarat elections.

09 Dec 2017, 07:01:00 PM IST

There is no such connection of any Bluetooth or EVM: EC

09 Dec 2017, 06:45:00 PM IST

68% voter turnout in first phase of Gujarat elections: EC

The Election Commission on Saturday said that the first phase of Gujarat elections has recorded a voter turnout of 68%, but many are still queued outside polling booths to exercise their franchise. “By the time we get final figures voting percentage may go a little higher and touch last year’s figure,” said EC in a media briefing. (ANI)

09 Dec 2017, 06:39:00 PM IST

Troubles galore as polling ends for first phase of Gujarat elections

Multiple vignettes of incidents have started emerging as polling wound down for the first phase of Gujarat elections on Saturday. In Junagadh, BJP’s Kirit patel slapped a presiding officer for allegedly closing the polling booth five minutes early. Ashwin Sankdasariya’s car was attacked in Surat, he blamed Hardik Patel’s PAAS for it.

09 Dec 2017, 06:33:00 PM IST

EC addressing the media after polling ends in first phase of Gujarat elections

09 Dec 2017, 06:28:00 PM IST

Arun Jaitley quashes Congress allegations on EVM tampering

Finance minister Arun Jaitley termed Congress allegations on EVM tampering are baseless statements. “When statements of these kind are given, I can’t help but say that these are preparation of upcoming defeat,” Jaitley said. Congress’s Arjun Modhwadia had complained of a bluetooth connection in an EVM in Porbandar earlier on Saturday. (ANI)

09 Dec 2017, 06:24:00 PM IST

EVMs & VVPATs being sealed after first phase of polling in Rajkot

09 Dec 2017, 06:10:00 PM IST

Over 70% voter turnout recorded in first phase of Gujarat elections

The first phase of Gujarat elections recorded over 70% voter turnout at close of polling in the first phase, though there were still long queues lined up to vote at most polling stations, said Gujarat chief electoral officer, B.B Swain. (Hindustan Times)

09 Dec 2017, 06:01:00 PM IST

First phase voting ends, 65% voter turnout in Bharuch, Surat, Saurashtra

The voting for the first phase of Gujarat election ended at 5pm,with around 65% voting recorded in Bharuch, Surat and Saurashtra, reports Tv9 Gujarati.

09 Dec 2017, 05:51:00 PM IST

No truth behind EVM tampering: Bharuch District Collector

09 Dec 2017, 05:26:00 PM IST

60% voter turnout till 4pm: EC

The Election Commission data showed 60.16% voter turnout till 4pm.

09 Dec 2017, 04:58:00 PM IST

Rahul will fail miserably in first test as Cong de facto chief: BJP

Gujarat BJP chief and himself a Patidar, Jitu Vaghani said today Rahul Gandhi will fail miserably in his first test as the Congress’s “de facto chief” because he and Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel are “cheating hardworking and decent people”. (PTI)

09 Dec 2017, 04:44:00 PM IST

District-wise voter turnout till 2pm: EC

The Election Commission data showed highest 57% voter turnout recorded in the Tapi district till 2pm. The lowest 40% voter turnout was recorded in Porbandar till 2pm.

Source: Election Commission
Source: Election Commission

09 Dec 2017, 04:39:00 PM IST

Selfie point built in Bhavnagar to attract voters to cast their vote

09 Dec 2017, 04:34:00 PM IST

1.90% of VVPATs replaced out of 24,689 units

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. (ANI)

09 Dec 2017, 04:31:00 PM IST

Some EVMs replaced due to errors: EC

“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,” says Yogesh Thakkar, Bhavnagar deputy electoral officer on reports of faulty EVMs in the first phase of polling. (ANI)

09 Dec 2017, 04:23:00 PM IST

EC team checks EVMs in Thakkar Plot in Porbandar

A team of Election Commission reaches polling booth in Thakkar Plot, Porbandar after complaints of EVM being connected to Bluetooth. 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’. (ANI)

09 Dec 2017, 03:30:00 PM IST

45% voter turnout till 2pm in first phase of Gujarat elections

Election Commission data showed 45% voter turnout was recorded till 2pm in the first phase of Gujarat elections.

09 Dec 2017, 03:01:00 PM IST

Voting to end at 5pm: EC

As per the latest data released by the Election Commission, 30.31% voters exercised their franchise between 8am and 12pm. The voting will end at 5pm. The highest turnout of 38.07% was recorded in the tribal-dominated district of Tapi, while Narmada, another tribal-dominated district in south Gujarat, recorded the lowest turnout of 25.67%. Chief electoral officer for Gujarat B. B. Swain said that though voting would end at 5pm, those standing in queue outside polling booths before the process ends, would be given a chance to cast their votes. Though there were reports of technical glitches in EVMs in Surat and some other centres, the polling process resumed after the machines were replaced, officials of the Election Commission said. Speaking about it, Swain said, “We have received complaints of faulty EVMs from some places and all such machines have been replaced with the spare ones kept at the polling stations.” (PTI)

09 Dec 2017, 02:11:00 PM IST

No issue in EVMs anymore, says Bhavnagar District Collector

There is no issue, at few places where machines had problems that has been resolved, machines have been replaced wherever required. Polling is going on peacefully: Harshad Patel, Bhavnagar District Collector. (ANI)

09 Dec 2017, 01:46:00 PM IST

31% voter turnout till noon: EC

Voter turnout was recorded at 30.31% till 12 noon, according to official figures released by the election commission. Earlier, around 23% voter turnout was recorded in the first two hours of voting for the first phase of Gujarat elections till 10am, the Election Commission said on Saturday. Read more

09 Dec 2017, 01:14:00 PM IST

BJP’s Parsottam Rupala casts vote in Amreli

Union minister of state for agriculture Parsottam Rupala casts his vote in a polling booth in Amreli.

09 Dec 2017, 12:53:00 PM IST

Congress’s campaign tactics have failed: Arun Jaitley

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday expressed confidence that the BJP will win Gujarat elections. “This will be a landslide victory for BJP and the win will be resounding. Congress’s campaign tactics have failed,” he said. (ANI)

09 Dec 2017, 12:11:00 PM IST

Around 23% voter turnout recorded till 12pm

The first phase of polling in Gujarat elections today has recorded around 23% voter turnout till 12pm, according to Tv9 Gujarati. A Firstpost report says Surat recorded 26% voter turnout till 12pm, while Narmada recorded 21%. Voting percentage was recorded 16% at Navsari, 19% at Tapi, 20% at Dang, 22% at Bharuch.

09 Dec 2017, 11:51:00 AM IST

Una assembly seat: BJP candidate Hari Solanki casts vote

BJP’s Una assembly seat candidate Hari Solanki casts vote. Solanki is contesting against Congress sitting MLA Vansh Punjabhai Bhimabhai who had beaten BJP’s Kalubhai Chanabhai Rathod in 2012. Una was in news last year, on 11 July, after seven Dalits from Mota Samadhiyala village of Gir Somnath district were flogged publically for skinning a dead cow.

09 Dec 2017, 11:36:00 AM IST

11% voter turnout in till 10am: EC

Around 11% 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. After the polling process began at 8 am, people could be seen stepping out of their homes despite cold weather and queuing up to exercise their franchise at the polling stations. According to officials, around 11% voting has been recorded in the first two hours. Although there were reports of technical glitches in EVMs in Surat and some other centres, the polling process resumed after the machines were replaced, officials of the Election Commission said. In the first two hours, several important leaders and candidates cast their votes, including Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, his opponent on Rajkot-West seat Indranil Rajyaguru, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, Gujarat BJP chief Jitu Vaghani and Congress MLA of Amreli seat Paresh Dhanan, among others. Cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara also cast his vote in Rajkot. (PTI)

09 Dec 2017, 11:23:00 AM IST

EVMs getting connected with bluetooth, claims Congress’ Arjun Modhwadia

Amid reports of EVM glitches from across Gujarat in the first phase of voting today, Congress candidate from Porbandar, Arjun Modhwadia claimed that the EVMs are getting connected with bluetooth.

09 Dec 2017, 11:01:00 AM IST

2 EVMs, 1 VVPAT replaced in Surat’s Varaccha

Following reports of technical errors in the EVMs in Surat’s Varaccha seat, the EC has replaced two machines and one VVPAT.“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.

09 Dec 2017, 10:57:00 AM IST

Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Arjun Modhwadia cast vote

Congress leaders Arjun Modhwadia and Ahmed Patel cast their vote. Modhwadia cast his vote at a polling booth in Porbandar, he is contesting against BJP’s sitting MLA Babu Bokhiria. Patel cast his vote at a polling booth in Bharuch’s Ankleshwar. Patel also expressed confidence that his party will win more than 110 seats.

09 Dec 2017, 10:38:00 AM IST

Faulty EVM in Sardar Patel Vidyalaya booth in Surat’s Varaccha has been replaced

09 Dec 2017, 10:14:00 AM IST

15% voting recorded till 10am

Around 15% voting recorded till 10am in the first phase of Gujarat elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi have urged the people to come out in large numbers and vote. Meanwhile, the BJP tweeted that Amit Shah will hold four public meetings in Gujarat today.

09 Dec 2017, 10:11:00 AM IST

Kamrej: BJP’s Zalavadiya Vinubhai Dahyabhai is up against Congress’s Ashok Jirawala

Voting is underway on Surat’s Kamrej assembly seat in the first phase of Gujarat elections where Patidars hold the key. This semi-urban constituency includes 72 villages of Surat district. BJP’s Zalavadiya Vinubhai Dahyabhai is up against Congress’s Ashok Jirawala. Pansheriya Prafulbhai Chhaganbhai of BJP is the sitting MLA who won the 2012 assembly election against Bhagirathbhai Manubhai Pithavdiwala of the Congress.

09 Dec 2017, 10:06:00 AM IST

Vote comes first, wedding later

A couple reaches polling booth in Bharuch’s Bahumali building to cast their votes before their wedding ceremony.

09 Dec 2017, 09:48:00 AM IST

33 EVMs show technical error during first phase of voting in Gujarat elections

09 Dec 2017, 09:35:00 AM IST

8% voter turnout recorded till 9am, 22 EVMs show technical error

Around 8% voting recorded till 9am in the first phase of Gujarat elections, according to Tv9 Gujarati. The channel also reports of 22 EVMs showing technical error during polling.

09 Dec 2017, 09:26:00 AM IST

BJP has turned leaders like Sardar Patel into ‘product’: Rahul Gandhi

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has accused the BJP of turning leaders such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Mahatma Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose into “product”. Gandhi on Friday addressed a campaign meeting in Anand town in central Gujarat which is historically associated with Sardar Patel. “Sardar Patel does not belong to either Narendra Modi or Rahul Gandhi or Solanki, or to Gujarat or India, but he belongs to the world,” Gandhi said. “The Congress party will always respect him, but I would like to tell you that sometimes it appears that whether it is Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, it sometimes appears that they (BJP) have turned them into a product,” Gandhi said. (PTI)

09 Dec 2017, 09:15:00 AM IST

Majura seat: BJP’s incumbent MLA Harsh Sanghvi faces Congress’ Ashok Kothari

Sitting BJP MLA Harsh Sanghvi is contesting against Congress’s Ashok Kothari in Surat’s Majura. The Majura seat was formed after the 2008 delimitation and has a significant number of migrants from North India. The constituency has reportedly around 2.3 lakh voters, and of them only 1.5 lakh are Gujaratis. Dhanpat Jain, who was the Congress candidate in 2012 from Majura reportedly received just 31,000 votes against Sanghvi’s 1,03,000.

09 Dec 2017, 09:12:00 AM IST

BJP’s Jhankhnaben Patel faces Congress’ Yogeshbhai Patel in Choryasi

Voting is underway on Surat’s Choryasi assembly seat where BJP’s Jhankhnaben Patel is up against Congress’s Yogeshbhai B. Patel.The contest for the 12 seats in Surat, the diamond and textile hub of the country as well as a BJP bastion, is being viewed as a referendum on the note ban and GST, as the BJP is facing a stiff opposition from the trading community.

09 Dec 2017, 09:07:00 AM IST

Jitu Vaghani casts vote in Bhavnagar West

Gujarat BJP chief Jitu Vaghani and the party’s candidate from Bhavnagar West has expressed confidence of winning more than 150 seats.“We are going to win 150+ seats under the leadership of PM Modi ji, we face no obstacles,” he said after casting vote in Bhavnagar West.

09 Dec 2017, 08:56:00 AM IST

Vijay Rupani casts vote in Rajkot West

Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani casts vote in Rajkot West. He is facing the challenge from Congress’ Indranil Rajyaguru. The CM had earlier urged the people to come out in large numbers to vote. “We are very confident, no question of any challenge,” he said.

09 Dec 2017, 08:54:00 AM IST

PAAS leader claims ‘fixing’ between Hardik Patel, Congress

Earlier Hardik Patel’s key aide and senior member of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) Dinesh Bambhania had alleged on Friday that the quota agitation spearhead’s support to the Congress party smacks of some kind of “fixing” between them. Bambhania said he could not understand why Patel was supporting the Congress party. “In the poll manifesto, the Congress has not clarified how it would grant us reservation under OBC quota after coming to power in Gujarat. It shows that Congress actually never wanted to give us reservation. Yet, Hardik Patel is doing rallies in Congress’ favour,” he told reporters. “Our fight was not about bringing a party to power. At least I do not wish to be an agent of a party. Hardik should not politicise the agitation... I urge all the Patidars to use their wisdom when they go for voting tomorrow,” Bhambania said. (PTI)

09 Dec 2017, 08:24:00 AM IST

Rahul Gandhi appeals to voters to exercise their franchise

09 Dec 2017, 08:07:00 AM IST

Voting for first phase of Gujarat elections in Bharuch

09 Dec 2017, 08:00:00 AM IST

Voting begins for 89 seats in first phase of Gujarat elections

Voting has started in 89 seats out of the 182 constituencies in the first phase of Gujarat elections.

09 Dec 2017, 07:49:00 AM IST

EC to use VVPAT in voting in first phase of Gujarat elections

The Election Commission (EC) has put in place “elaborate administrative safeguards and security protocols” for ensuring effective use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in the state. Read more“In order to provide 100% voter verifiability and auditability of every vote cast through the EVM, the Commission has deployed Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines in all the 50,128 polling stations in Gujarat excluding Auxiliary Polling Stations,” a press release by the EC said.

09 Dec 2017, 07:45:00 AM IST

Key battles in Gujarat elections first phase

A total of 977 candidates are in fray for the first phase of Gujarat elections, which will see the electorate in 89 constituencies exercise their franchise at 24,689 polling booths. Prominent candidates for today’s battle include chief minister Vijay Rupani, who is contesting from Rajkot (West), and Congress’s Shaktisinh Gohil (Mandvi) and Paresh Dhanani (Amreli).

09 Dec 2017, 07:30:00 AM IST

Voting in first phase of Gujarat to begin at 8am

Voting for the first phase of Gujarat elections will begin today on 89 seats of Saurashtra and South Gujarat regions.After a campaign that often turned vituperative, around 2.12 crore voters would be exercising their franchise in PM Narendra Modi’s home state to choose between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. The election is viewed as a prestige battle for Modi and a litmus test for the leadership of soon-to-be Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The poll discourse over the course of campaigning kept changing with issues such as the Ayodhya dispute, Gandhi’s imminent elevation as Congress president and his visits to temples being raked up by the BJP.Gandhi emerged as the Congress’ pivot to take on the might of the prime minister on his home turf. While Modi addressed about 15 rallies, Gandhi spent more than seven days in Saurashtra and south Gujarat, addressing a number of meetings. (PTI)

09 Dec 2017, 06:21:00 AM IST

PM Narendra Modi appeals to voters to make Gujarat elections a success

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