As Gujarat votes for the first phase of assembly elections today, a voter in order to exercise his franchise rescheduled his wedding. Prafulbhai More was to leave for Maharashtra on Thursday morning for his wedding but he rescheduled it for evening and cast his vote in Tapi.
“I urge everyone to vote, you shouldn't waste it. My wedding was scheduled for the morning but I rescheduled it for the evening, we've to go to Maharashtra for it," said More after he cast his vote, reported news agency ANI.
More, in the photographs taken by the news agency is seen standing at a polling booth wearing the traditional attire kurta-pyjama covered in turmeric
The polling for first phase Gujarat Assembly election is underway in 89 constituencies spread across 19 districts of Kutch, Saurashtra and South Gujarat. An average 34.48 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1 PM
As per the Election Commision of India (ECI), Tapi recorded the highest voter turnout at 26.47 per cent till 11 am, while Dwaraka recorded the lowest voter turnout at 15.86 per cent.
A total of 2,39,76,670 voters who will cast their votes by 5 pm today will decide the fate of 788 candidates in the fray for the first phase.
Out of the total number of electorates, 1,24,33,362 are males, 1,1,5,42,811 females and 497 are from the third gender. Over 4 lakh PWD voters are eligible to cast their votes, reported news agency ANI.
Nearly 9.8 lakh senior citizen voters (80+) and nearly 10,000 voters who are 100 and above are eligible to vote.