Gujarat polls: 70 per cent in 2nd phase, repeat of 1st phase polling

The other prominent candidates who were in the fray today included controversial former minister of state for home, Amit Shah, accused in Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsiram Prajapati encounter cases, health minister Jaynarayan Vyas and revenue minister Anandiben Patel.

Jagruti Pandya, wife of slain BJP leader Haren Pandya of Keshubhai Patel's Gujarat Parivartan Party(GPP), is trying her luck from Ellis Bridge seat in this city.

Modi cast his vote at Nishan High School in Ranip area of the city.

Confident of returning to power, Modi, who was mobbed by his supporters, said, "I thank all the voters. In this election, people of Gujarat will make a hat-trick by giving a third term to us."

Veteran BJP leader L K Advani and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitely were among theprominent voters.

The high voting till afternoon and huge turnout has once again sparked off a debate on vote swing, which political pundits predict could be anti-incumbency or swing in favour of a particular party.

Long queues were seen since morning across 23,318 polling stations, with men, women and youths coming out in large numbers.

Record 70.10% polling in Ahmedabad district

An unprecedented 70.10 per cent voting was recorded in Ahmedabad district today, the highest-ever amongst cities with million-plus population in the country, election authorities said here.

Amidst this high turnout, the Model Code of Conduct Cell received 70 complaints of violation, including one against the Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

"An unprecedented historic voting of nearly 70.10 per cent was recorded on 17 seats, around 15 per cent higher than previous elections, and is highest in 50 years since the formation of Gujarat state," District Election Officer, Ahmedabad, Vijay Nehra said.

"If voting on four seats in the first phase is clubbed, the estimated percentage for the entire Ahmedabad district was around 69.6 per cent," he said, adding, this shattered the myth that educated middle classes don't come out to vote.

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