Gujarat elections: EC has become Modi’s ‘captive puppet’, says Congress as voting ends for second phase - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Gujarat elections: EC has become Modi’s ‘captive puppet’, says Congress as voting ends for second phase

Indo Asian News Service, Gandhinagar | ByIndo Asian News Service, Gandhinagar
Dec 14, 2017 07:23 PM IST

The Congress accused the Election Commission of ignoring the BJP’s and Modi’s violations of the model code of conduct.

The second and final phase of the bitterly fought Gujarat assembly elections ended on Thursday evening amid a war of words between the ruling BJP and an aggressive Congress. (Follow exit polls LIVE updates here)

Saints stand in a queue to casts their votes at a polling station during the last phase of Gujarat state assembly election on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on December 14.(Reuters)
Saints stand in a queue to casts their votes at a polling station during the last phase of Gujarat state assembly election on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on December 14.(Reuters)

Balloting closed at 5pm with an estimated 60% of the 2.22 crore electorate exercising their franchise in 93 constituencies across 14 districts of northern and central Gujarat.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Nearly 50 per cent polling was seen by 3pm, the Election Commission said. One official said the overall polling could even cross 70%.

Thursday’s fight for Gujarat, ruled by the BJP for 22 long years, ended more or less peacefully. Voters, however, complained about malfunctioning Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at some places.

The sluggish voter turnout in the first few hours due to the winter chill gave way to visible enthusiasm as the day progressed. Long queues of men and women were seen outside polling booths almost everywhere.

Read | Congress brands EC Narendra Modi’s ‘puppet’, files complaint against PM’s ‘roadshow’

But with the stakes high in Gujarat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress were locked in a war of words after Prime Minister Narendra Modi voted in Ahmedabad and then went around the area, flashing his finger with the voter mark.

A furious Congress complained to the Election Commission that Modi held a roadshow in Ranip area.

After casting his vote, Modi stood on the steps of his vehicle and waved to the cheering crowds. His 97-year-old mother Hiraba, who lives in Gandhinagar with Modi’s younger brother Pankaj Modi, also voted in Gandhinagar North.

The Congress accused the Election Commission of becoming a “captive puppet” in the hands of PM Modi, who it said was brazenly breaking rules in a final bid to save the BJP’s “sinking ship” in Gujarat. It said the Election Commission was ignoring the BJP’s and Modi’s violations of the model code of conduct. Congress activists staged a demonstration outside the office of the poll panel in New Delhi.

BJP veteran LK Advani, the Lok Sabha member from Gandhinagar, cast his vote at a booth in Hindi Vidyalaya in Shahpur area of the old city. Finance minister Arun Jaitley voted at a booth in Chimanbhai Institute at Vejalpur area.

Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah and his wife Sonal Shah display victory sign after casting their votes for the second phase of Gujarat state assembly elections in Ahmadabad on Thursday. (AP Photo)
Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah and his wife Sonal Shah display victory sign after casting their votes for the second phase of Gujarat state assembly elections in Ahmadabad on Thursday. (AP Photo)

Deputy chief minister Nitin Patel too voted on Thursday. Patidar leader Hardik Patel, who has virtually thrown his lot with the Congress, exercised his franchise in Viramgam.

A skirmish took place between two groups in Hasanpur village in Visnagar at Mehsana. The police used batons to disperse the mob. Ten persons have hospitalised.

The districts were elections were held on Thursday included Banaskantha, Patan, Sabarkantha, Mehsana, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Aravalli, Mahisagar, Panchmahal, Dahod, Kheda, Anand, Vadodara and Chhota Udepur.

A total of 25,575 polling booths were set up in 14,523 places.

There were several complaints regarding malfunctioning EVMs in and around Vadodara city, halting polling temporarily.

A clash also erupted in Dhanera town in Banaskantha district, police said.

The first round of polling to elect a 182-member Gujarat Assembly took place on December 9. The votes will be counted on Monday.

Watch an interesting conversation with Indian politician & former Union Minister of State, Milind Deora. HT’s senior journalist Kumkum Chadha talks to him about his life in politics & beyond. Watch Now!
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On