Roundup: Voting for first phase of local elections in India's Gujarat begins

by Peerzada Arshad Hamid

NEW DELHI, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Voting for local elections in India's western state of Gujarat began Saturday morning amid tight security and adequate arrangements, officials said.

The voting is underway in all the 89 constituencies of Kutch, Saurashtra and South Gujarat. Voters including women and elderly are making queues outside the polling stations to cast their votes.

"Today's phase elections are taking place in 89 of the state's 182 constituencies," said an election commission official. "All the measures have been put in place to ensure free and fair polling."

Polling began at 8:00 a.m. local time and will go on until 5:00 p.m.local time in the evening.

Officials said in the first phase over 21 million voters are expected to exercise their right to vote to decide fate of 977 candidates including 57 women in the fray.

India's ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has been governing the state since 1998. Gujarat is the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi has served as chief minister of the state for over 12 years.

In the ongoing elections, the opposition Congress party and two young leaders Hardik Patel and Jignesh Mevani are trying hard to unseat BJP in the state.

All the parties have led aggressive campaigns to impress upon voters and get them on their side.

Reports pouring in from the state said the polling was going on peacefully and is picking up slowly.

"All arrangements are in place for smooth conduct of polls," a poll official told media. "Both VVPAT machines and Electronic Voting Machines are being used on all polling booths. "

Modi has urged the voters from state to ensure participation in the elections.

"Phase 1 of Gujarat polls begin. Urging all those voting today to turnout in record numbers and vote. I particularly call upon youngsters to exercise their franchise," the prime minister wrote on twitter.

The counting of votes will be taken up on Dec 18.

The Election Commission of India has already asked media to refrain from publishing any articles or programs related to prediction of election results (popularly known as exit polls) regarding local elections. The poll body issued an advisory that no such news or opinion piece should be published until the evening of Dec. 14, when the second and final phase of Gujarat local elections will be held.

The step, according to officials, was taken to prevent electors from being influenced by the predictions. Enditem