M A I N   N E W S

Peaceful polling in Gujarat

New Delhi, December 16
An estimated 63 to 65 per cent of nearly 1.87 crore electorate today exercised their franchise in the second and final phase of the Gujarat Assembly election spread over 95 constituencies which was by and large peaceful. Today's polling sealed the fate of Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

“The polling was by and large peaceful and orderly with no major incident reported from anywhere in the state,” deputy election commissioner Jaiprakash told reporters here.

The polling in communally sensitive Godhra district was recorded between 53 and 55 per cent, the EC official said.

The second phase, being considered a decisive factor for the BJP seeking to retain power, will also decide the fate of 599 candidates, including revenue minister Kaushik Patel, health minister Ashok Bhatt, minister of state for home Amit Shah, education minister Anandiben Patel and Vipul Chaudhary.

Congress candidates include former deputy chief minister Narhari Amin, Udaysinh Baria and Balwantsinh Rajput.

Over 5000 poll observers were posted inside polling stations in the key areas and the polling process in sensitive constituencies was recorded by 6,000 video cameras, he said.

A BJP candidate Jyanthi Ratwa was booked under various sections of the IPC and Arms Act for illegal possession of arms.

One presiding officer in Sankheda was replaced for not adhering to instructions of the commission, he said.

Four cases of bogus voting were registered in Limidi and an election agent was booked under section 135 of People's Representation Act for canvassing within 200 metres of polling stations. — PTI

Cong complains to EC about missing names on voters list

Ahmedabad, December 16
The Congress has filed a complaint with the Election Commission after several voters found their names missing from the list during the second phase of Gujarat polls today.

Voters from several constituencies of Ahmedabad, Vadodara and other parts of Central and North Gujarat regions found their names missing when they went to cast their ballots.

In its complaint, the Congress has stated that the several electorates having EPIC (Election Photo Identity Card) were not allowed to vote as their names were missing from the list. The Opposition party has alleged that “on verbal instructions from the Gujarat government, the names of voters of a particular locality or residential societies were deliberately deleted from the voters’ list”.

Several other voters, who had not received their EPICs, were also not allowed to vote, the Congress said.

In Ahmedabad city, several voters displaying their EPICs told mediapersons that they were not allowed to cast their ballot as their names were missing from the voting list. A large number of voters from Jamalpur, Ellisbridge, Khadia and Maninagar assembly seats complained of their names missing from the list.

Meanwhile, several vehicles were set on fire after Congress and BJP workers clashed this evening in Himmatnagar town of Sabarkantha district. — PTI