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    Gujarat Elections 2017 Live updates: Over 70% voting in Gujarat first phase, many still to vote

    09 Dec, 2017 | 06:02:43 PM IST
    Gujarat Elections 2017 Live updates: Over 70% voting in Gujarat first phase, many still to vote
    Gujarat Elections 2017: Gujarat votes today in the first phase of the assembly elections being held in 89 seats of Saurashtra and South Gujarat regions that has 977 candidates in the fray. Prominent names in Saturday's battle include CM Vijay Rupani, who is contesting from Rajkot (West), and Congress' Shaktisinh Gohil (Mandvi). Track all the updates here:
    1 New Update
    07:54:13 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Gujarat Elections: 68% voter turnout in first phase

    06:52:15 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    0verall Polling 68%, as against 70.7% in 2012. 63% in Kutch, Morbi 75%, Rajiv 70%, Jamnagar 65%, Devbhumbi 63%, Porbandar 60%, Jungarh 65%, Gir Somnath 70%, Amrelli 67%, Narmanda 73%, Surat 70%, Dang 70%, Baruch 71%

    06:32:28 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Gujarat elections 2017: Voter turnout update till 4 PM

    05:49:31 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Congress has promised reservation in Gujarat to a community. Is it going to snatch it away from SC/STs or OBCs or is it just like quota promise to Muslims? PM Modi

    05:30:00 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    60% voter turnout recorded till 4 pm in first phase of Gujarat election

    60% voter turnout recorded till 4 pm in first phase of Gujarat election
    05:12:06 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Without development there is no solution to the problems India faces: PM Narendra Modi in Mehsana

    Without development there is no solution to the problems India faces: PM Narendra Modi in Mehsana
    04:34:52 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Governor of Karnataka Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala cast his vote in Rajkot

    Governor of Karnataka Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala cast his vote in Rajkot
    04:29:31 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    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.

    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.
    04:26:02 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Congress complains of EVM 'tampering' via bluetooth, EC orders probe

    The Election Commission said that based on the Congress leader's complaint, an inquiry had been initiated.
    Congress complains of EVM 'tampering' via bluetooth, EC orders probe
    04:14:20 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">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 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GujaratElection2017?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GujaratElection2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/czFeupn7UU">pic.twitter.com/czFeupn7UU</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/939444044337311745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
    04:11:00 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Gujarat records 45.61% voting till 2 pm in first phase of elections

    Gujarat records 45.61% voting till 2 pm in first phase of elections
    03:40:40 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Gujarat elections 2017: Voter turnout update till 12 PM

    03:37:52 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    PM first said that BJP will fight election over Narmada water. Sometime later, they said they would take up the issue of OBC. They then went to 'vikas' of 22 years. None of these issues worked: Rahul Gandhi in Patan's Harij

    PM first said that BJP will fight election over Narmada water. Sometime later, they said they would take up the issue of OBC. They then went to 'vikas' of 22 years. None of these issues worked: Rahul Gandhi in Patan's Harij
    03:36:34 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> EVM engineer S.Anand talks to media after visiting a polling booth in Porbandar&#39;s Thakkar plot following complaints of EVM being connected to Bluetooth, says, &#39;the name that you give to your Bluetooth device will be shown when it is paired to another device&#39; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gujarat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gujarat</a> <a href="https://t.co/TivLjQXEOW">pic.twitter.com/TivLjQXEOW</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/939430496001331200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
    03:35:26 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    A team of Election Commission reaches polling booth in Thakkar Plot, Porbandar after complaints 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
    03:27:29 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    35.52% voter turnout recorded till 2 pm in first phase

    35.52% voter turnout recorded till 2 pm in first phase
    03:25:22 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    How Rahul Gandhi is forging a personal connection with Gujarat

    Rahul left no stone unturned to please the Gujaratis, even if it meant wearing a tilak on his forehead and Hinduness on his sleeve.
    How Rahul Gandhi is forging a personal connection with Gujarat
    02:44:44 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Election Commission officials reach Porbandar after complaints of EVM being connected to Bluetooth

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A team of Election Commission reaches polling booth in Thakkar Plot, Porbandar after complaints of EVM being connected to Bluetooth <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GujaratElection2017?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GujaratElection2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/ETmuu73Fwk">pic.twitter.com/ETmuu73Fwk</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/939422217925828609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
    02:32:00 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Congress govt will give free medicines to patients from govt hospitals' pharmacies: Rahul Gandhi

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="hi" dir="ltr">???????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ????????? ?? ???????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ??? ???? ??????????, ?? ?? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ???? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vote4ChangeVote4Congress?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Vote4ChangeVote4Congress</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GujaratRound1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GujaratRound1</a></p>&mdash; Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/939417485022863361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
    02:27:29 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Modi in Gujarat's Harij

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="hi" dir="ltr">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&#39;s Harij <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GujaratElection2017?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GujaratElection2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/CHYRmTEnjS">pic.twitter.com/CHYRmTEnjS</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/939415717606068224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
    02:19:16 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Gujarat elections: PM Modi puts Congress on mat by citing Nizami's 'anti-national' tweets

    02:15:34 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Congress preparing ground to blame their defeat on EVM: Jitendra Singh

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">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 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GujaratElection2017?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GujaratElection2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/TVNCNVhQQd">pic.twitter.com/TVNCNVhQQd</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/939410425166274561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
    02:08:10 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Bhavnagar district collector says polling is going on peacefully

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">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 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GujaratElection2017?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GujaratElection2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/u5ILpiiFba">pic.twitter.com/u5ILpiiFba</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/939410300486295552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
    01:55:11 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Gujarat polls: Congress alleges EVM malfunctioning in various polling stations

    01:52:37 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Development missing from PM Narendra Modi's speeches: Rahul Gandhi

    Gandhi said the Prime Minister has also not answered any of his last questions. "I asked him ten questions on the Gujarat report cards, he did not reply."
    Development missing from PM Narendra Modi's speeches: Rahul Gandhi
    01:46:33 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Update: 21.09 per cent voting recorded till 12 pm

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">21.09% voting till 12 pm in first phase of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GujaratElection2017?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GujaratElection2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/F4SZyk49aE">pic.twitter.com/F4SZyk49aE</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/939402856011931648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
    01:40:48 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Elderly people arrive to cast their vote in Bharuch

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Elderly people arrive to cast their vote in Bharuch&#39;s Ankleshwar <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GujaratElection2017?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GujaratElection2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/d1P6bjqJi2">pic.twitter.com/d1P6bjqJi2</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/939401087886376960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
    01:39:33 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Congress leaders are unable to understand and identify with the aspirations of the tribal communities and the farmers: PM Modi in Bodeli

    Congress leaders are unable to understand and identify with the aspirations of the tribal communities and the farmers: PM Modi in Bodeli
    01:20:40 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    A 94-year-old woman comes down to vote at a polling station in Bhavnagar

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">True Color of Democracy: A 94-year-old woman comes down to vote at a polling station in Bhavnagar! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dec18WithTimesNow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dec18WithTimesNow</a><br>Report: <a href="https://twitter.com/Prashant_TN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Prashant_TN</a> <a href="https://t.co/wBkovVD7zf">pic.twitter.com/wBkovVD7zf</a></p>&mdash; TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimesNow/status/939385441345613826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
    01:05:30 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    PM Modi shares pictures from his Lunawada rally

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Unprecedented fervour at the rally in Lunawada. <a href="https://t.co/J0yvsSEIi0">pic.twitter.com/J0yvsSEIi0</a></p>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/939396604204929024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
    12:57:59 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Who is Salman Nizami? asks Congress

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Salman Nizami kaun hai hum jaante hi nahi. He does not hold any position in the party. We can also say that there is some random person Ram Lal in BJP who said something: Rajiv Shukla on PM Modi&#39;s remarks about Salman Nizami <a href="https://t.co/nKWe2WDnDD">pic.twitter.com/nKWe2WDnDD</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/939389863136129026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
    12:52:26 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    View: Is the BJP nervous about Gujarat?

    Prima facie, it should be cakewalk for the BJP, not least because its principle opponent, the Congress, has been down in the dumps all these years.
    View: Is the BJP nervous about Gujarat?
    12:51:43 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Congress' campaign tactics have failed, says FM Arun Jaitley

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This will be a landslide victory for BJP and the win will be resounding. Congress&#39;s campaign tactics have failed: FM Arun Jaitley <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GujaratElection2017?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GujaratElection2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/TtaL7iVCgQ">pic.twitter.com/TtaL7iVCgQ</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/939393655646781440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
    12:43:02 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Gujarat polls: Rahul taunts 'Baahubali' Modi, asks 'Kya bhashan hi shasan hai?'

    12:29:10 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Few interesting points about the poll-bound State

    Maximum Candidates in one constituency 27 Jamnagar Rural
    <br><br>
    Minimum Candidates in one constituency 3 Jhagadia (ST), Gandevi (ST)
    <br><br>
    Largest constituency (by electorate) Kamrej (4,28,695 electors)
    <br><br>
    Smallest constituency (by electorate) Surat North (1,57,250 electors)
    <br><br>
    Total Number of EVMs: 27,158
    <br><br>
    Total Number of Polling Stations: 24,689
    12:27:24 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Gujarat elections: Cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara cast his vote in Rajkot

    12:22:56 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Party-wise candidates facing serious criminal cases

    Out of 923 candidates analysed by ADR, 137, or 15%, have declared criminal cases against themselves
    Party-wise candidates facing serious criminal cases
    12:21:34 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Partywise candidates

    Partywise candidates
    12:16:03 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Age-wise distribution of electorate

    Age-wise distribution of electorate
    12:13:55 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Party position in 2012

    Party position in 2012
    12:12:44 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Factors at play

    Factors at play
    12:10:03 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    As Gujarat goes to polls today, we take a look at the key contests

    As Gujarat goes to polls today, we take a look at the key contests
    12:06:00 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    Now PM Modi targets Congress leader Salman Nizami

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Salman Nizami asks on Twitter- Modi who is your father, who is your mother? Among the other things he says- he calls for Azad Kashmir. He calls our army rapists. How can the people accept such people like Salman Nizami? He also says there will be an Afzal from every home: PM Modi <a href="https://t.co/GAkioHAMMS">pic.twitter.com/GAkioHAMMS</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/939377797155323904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
    12:01:24 PM IST, 09 December 2017

    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
    11:48:59 AM IST, 09 December 2017

    BJP leader Reshma Patel heckled by Patidars in Junagadh

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A group of Patidars protest as BJP&#39;s Reshma Patel arrives to cast her vote in Junagadh, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GujaratElection2017?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GujaratElection2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/cLGt3QZmFQ">pic.twitter.com/cLGt3QZmFQ</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/939373810070859776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
    11:03:49 AM IST, 09 December 2017

    Gujarat elections: Shaktisinh Gohil alleges EVM malfunctioning in Surat and Amreli

    10:58:03 AM IST, 09 December 2017

    Election Commission official in Surat says EVMs are electronic items and there can be some issues

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">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 &amp; voting has started: Vipul Goti, Master Trainer, Election Commission in Surat&#39;s Varaccha <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GujaratElection2017?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GujaratElection2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/RVF86aW4Wh">pic.twitter.com/RVF86aW4Wh</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/939364978573709312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
    10:47:28 AM IST, 09 December 2017

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Faulty EVM in Sardar Patel Vidyalaya booth in Surat&#39;s Varaccha has been replaced <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GujaratElection2017?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GujaratElection2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/X6Tzu7aNCs">pic.twitter.com/X6Tzu7aNCs</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/939356762192277504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
    10:42:12 AM IST, 09 December 2017

    Jignesh Mewani gets funds from radical outfit

    Jignesh Mewani gets funds from radical outfit
    10:32:59 AM IST, 09 December 2017

    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel casts his vote in Bharuch&#39;s Ankleshwar, says &#39;Congress will win more than 110 seats&#39; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GujaratElection2017?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GujaratElection2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/V3CGobtwZ4">pic.twitter.com/V3CGobtwZ4</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/939357823846121472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2017</a></blockquote>
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