Final voter turnout in first phase of Gujarat polls 66.75 per cent, says Election Commission

The final voter turnout in the first phase of the Gujarat elections for 89 seats yesterday stood at 66.75 per cent, the Election Commission said today.

The poll panel yesterday declared an estimated 68 per cent voter turnout. In the 2012 elections, 71.32 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Gujarat for all the 182 seats.

The 89 seats that went to polls yesterday are in the Saurasthra, Kutch and South Gujarat regions.

The EC yesterday said it would announce the final figures on Sunday since the process of collecting and tabulating the poll data from the 19 districts was not finished till last evening.

The voter turnout for the first phase remained 66.75 per cent. Out of 2.12 crore voters in the regions, 1.41 crore exercised their franchise in the 89 seats in 19 districts, according to a release issued by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer for Gujarat.

According to the final data released today, tribal- dominated Narmada district witnessed the highest turnout at 79.15 per cent while Devbhumi-Dwarka seat in the Saurashtra region saw the lowest turnout at 59.39 per cent.

While 12 districts recorded a voter turnout of less than 70 per cent, seven registered the polling percentage of 70 per cent, it said.

Narmada district comprises Dediapada and Nandod constituencies -- both reserved seats currently held by the BJP.

Also read: PM Modi: Why does Pak Army ex-DG want Ahmed Patel as Gujarat CM

BJP MLA Motilal Vasava is fighting against Mahesh Vasava, son of rebel JD(U) leader Chhotubhai Vasava in crucial tribal-dominated Dediapada seat.

Vasava is contesting as the candidate of the Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP), floated by his father ahead of elections.

In Dwarka constituency, the main fight is between the BJP and the Congress.

Prominent candidates in the first-phase poll battle included Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Congress's Shaktisinh Gohil and Paresh Dhanani.

The second and final phase of elections for remaining 93 seats will be held on December 14. Counting of votes will be conducted on December 18.