Gujarat Assembly election 2017 Phase 2

The final voting figures in the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly polls stand at 68.70%. Despite a whirlwind campaigning by the ruling BJP and the Congress, the voting percentage dipped when compared to the 2012 assembly elections in the state. In 2012, the 71.3 per cent of the total voters had exercised their franchise in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  

The second phase of the assembly polls has 851 candidates in fray, contesting for 93 seats of a total of 182 assembly seats.

PM Narendra Modi had vigorously campaigned for his party while the Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi tried his best to whip up the anti-incumbency sentiments against the BJP which has been ruling the state for over 20 years now. 

The first phase of polls which were held in 89 assembly constituencies in Saurashtra and South Gujarat regions on December 9, observed a voter turnout of 68 percent.

The saffron party has been in power in Gujarat for over four terms now and the Congress is pushing harder to get back in power.

Meanwhile the results of the polls will be declared on December 18.

Here are the live updates from second phase:

5:50 pm IST: Meanwhile, a constitution expert has said that Modi did not break any MCC norms which the Congress has been alleging.

5:40 pm IST: 62.24 percent voting recorded till 4 pm in second phase of polling in Gujarat Assembly Elections

5:17 pm IST: A News 18 report has said that there was 57 percent voter turnout in the second phase of polling. The first phase had seen to 68 percent voter turnout.

5:03 pm IST: Catch the exit polls here.

5:00 pm IST: Voting for Gujarat Assembly Election ends as the second phase polling concludes.

4:59 pm IST: Women power seems to be in the roll after females at this all-women polling station in Vadodara, was seen being managed completely by women.

4:42 pm IST: Meanwhile, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has condemned the EC for siding with the BJP.

 4:40 pm IST: With only 20  minutes to go for the closure of the pollling in the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly Elections, voters in Chhaniyana village have alleged EVM rigging. However, casting of votes have resumed.

4:23 pm IST:  The Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer has also said that the MCC team was also present in Gujarat and they are finalising the enquiry report regarding Modi's roadshow on Thursday.

3:56 pm IST: Electoral Chief BB Swain said "There has been comaplint regarding the MCC violation. The compalint has been given to District Election Officer (DEO) Ahmedabad."

3:54 pm IST: Police arrested Congress workers protesting over PM Modi's road show in Sabarmati.

3:52 pm IST:  "We received a complaint from a person, apparently when he switched on bluetooth on his mobile phone it connected to the machine, we are checking this at every place, senior officers & observers at the spot to check this," said BB Swain over EVM malfunctioning.

3:42 pm IST: Electoral Chief said "47.40% voter turnout till 2 pm in phase two of GujaratElection2017 "

3:38 pm IST: Security beefed up at the Election Commission premises in Gujarat.

3:32 pm IST: Congress workers march towards the Election Commission in protest, against PM Modi's roadshow during his departure from Sabarmati this afternoon.

3:00 pm IST: 45% voter turnout till 2 pm on Thursday.

2:30 pm IST: BJP leader Bhupendra Yadav lashes out at the Congress as Congress said that the poll panel is influenced by the BJP.

1:42 pm IST: Senior BJP leader LK Advani casts his vote in Ahmedabad.

1:17 pm IST: Congress leader Ashok Gehlot over election commissions' notice to Rahul Gandhi, says, "PM Modi's road show after casting vote is a clear case of violation of the model code of conduct."

1:10 pm IST: The electoral officer said, "We have received two complaints regarding presence of Bluetooth in polling booths in Ghatlodia and Mehsana.We sent observers to the spot."

12:55 pm IST: Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer BB Swain confirms that "compared to phase 1, less than 50% cases of EVM replacements in phase 2."

12:42 pm IST: Former cricketer Nayan Mongia casts his vote in Akota.

12:36 pm IST: 39% voting recorded till 12 pm in the second phase of Gujarat assembly polls 2017.

12:32 pm IST: Visuals of PM Modi leaving Sabarmati.

12:26 pm IST: VVPATs replaced after mock polls.

12:18 pm IST: PM Modi walks out of poll booth number 115 after casting his vote. 

12:11 am IST: PM Modi arrives in Sabarmati's Ranip area to cast his vote.

11:39 am IST: PM Modi to cast his vote at booth number 115.

11:22 am IST: 10% voting was recorded in two hours, an official said, adding the process will pick up as the day progresses, IANS reported.

11:08 am IST: Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer BB Swain casts his vote.

10:38 am IST: Deputy CM of Gujarat, Nitin Patel who is contesting agsinst oppositions' Jivabhai Patel, casts his vote.

10:36 am IST: PAAS leader Hardik Patel casts his vote in Gujarat's Viramgam.

10:09 am IST: A polling officer was quoted by ANI as saying, "EVM in Sankheda's Sodhaliya village in Chhota Udaipur was dysfunctional for 50 minutes, so voting was halted for that duration. We fixed the machine and now the voting is underway."

10:04 am IST: Jaitley urges to peole in Gujarat to vote for BJP and take the development drive forward.

9:56 am IST: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley casts his vote in Ahmedabad.

9:44 am IST: BJP President surrounded by media as he leaves Naranpura after casting his vote.

9:40 am IST: Shankersingh Vaghela casts his vote in Varsan.

9:18 am IST: BJP President Amit Shah casts his vote in Naranpura.

9:10 am IST: Malfunctioning in EVMs reported from polling stations at Vadodara. Election Commission officers replaced the defected machines. 

9:02 am IST: Hardik Patel's parents— Bharat Patel and Usha Patel cast their vote.

8:53 am IST: PM Modi's mother casts her vote.

8:41 am IST: Patidar agitation leader Hardik Patel isn't asking his supporters to vote for Congress anywhere, CNN News18 reported. He is asking people not to vote for BJP.

8:27 am IST: PM Modi's mother Heeraben arrives in Gandhinagar to cast her vote.

8:23 am IST: Former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel casts her vote. 

8:14 am IST: Voters cast their vote at Viramgam poll booth number 252.  

8:02 am IST: Voting begins in Gujarat as Election Commission confirms that 2.22 crore people are eligible to vote across Gujarat in 25,558 polling booths, where 28,118 electronic voting machines have been deployed.

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