New Delhi: As polling is underway for the second phase of Guajrat Assembly elections 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the polling station, set up in a school in Ranip area of Ahmedabad city where he cast his vote. Ahead of commencement of polling, the Prime Minister urged the voters to turn out in large numbers and informed that he too will be casting his vote.
"Urging all those who are voting in Phase 2 of the Gujarat elections, particularly the young voters and women voters to vote in large numbers. I will be casting my vote in Ahmedabad at around 9 AM," he tweeted.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Bhai Patel also exercised his franchise.
The polling for second phase of Gujarat Assembly election began at 8 am in 93 constituencies across 14 districts in the central and north regions of the state. A total of 833 candidates from 61 political parties, including Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), are contesting the polls in these Assembly segments spread across Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Gandhinagar and other districts.
On the eve of polling, the Prime Minister visited his mother, Hiraba's residence in the state capital Gandhinagar and sought her blessing.
The Bharatiya Janata Party is eyeing an eighth term in Gujarat while debutant Aam Aadmi Party has added a third dimension to a two-faced contest between BJP and Congress.
Some of the important constituencies which are underway polling in the second phase include Ghatlodia (in Ahmedabad district) of CM Bhupendra Patel, Viramgam seat (also in Ahmedabad) from where Patidar leader Hardik Patel is fighting on the BJP's ticket, and Gandhinagar South from where Alpesh Thakor is fighting as the saffron party candidate.
Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani is contesting as the Congress candidate from Vadgam seat in Banaskantha district, and Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly Sukhram Rathva is the nominee from Jetpur in Chhota Udepur district.
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BJP rebel Madhu Shrivastav is contesting as an independent candidate from Vaghodia seat in Vadodara district.
A total of 833 candidates are in fray in the second phase of polling with 285 Independents.
As per the Election Commission, a total of 2.51 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise for the second phase of elections, including 1.29 crore men and 1.22 crore women. There are 5.96 lakh voters in the age group of 18 to 19 years.