Ahmedabad (Gujarat): Voting ended for the first phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections in 89 seats across 19 districts of Saurashtra-Kutch and southern regions at 5 pm on Thursday. While the final official voting figures were awaited, an estimated 60 per cent turnout was recorded in the phase as per the approximate trends given by the Election Commission which is much lower than 69.01 percent turnout in 2017.
Voter turnout was far lower than anticipated even though in every public meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi voters to exercise their franchise. Barring a few minor incidents and some reports of problems with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the voting process, which commenced at 8 am, remained largely peaceful. The second phase of elections will be held on December 5 and results will be announced on December 8.
What could have led to decreased turnout
The numbers show that as compared to the voting per cent in 2017, there has been a reduction in voting in all 19 districts. One reason could be that today, (December 1, 2022), is a Thursday, whereas December 9, 2017, when the elections were held, was a Saturday. A working day against an off day could have led to a decreased number of voters.
Another reason is the Patidar reservation Movement, which was a burning issue in 2017 and led to increased voting then. However, this time there was no such pressing problem.
Complaint of EVM failure
In the first round of the Gujarat Assembly elections, ballots were cast for 89 seats across 19 districts. Overall, the voting process was pretty calm however there were some reports of EVM malfunction. Voting was halted in a few places due to malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines as well as control units and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) but the faulty units were replaced and the process resumed.
The State Election Commission reported that 238 VVPATs and 82 control units were replaced. C-VIGIL received 221 complaints, while the Election Commission got 104 complaints.
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Locals protested at Dhrafa village in Jamjodhpur taluka of Jamnagar district as there were no separate polling booths for men and women.
They threatened to boycott voting, claiming that separate booths were always set up in the past. In Junagadh, a ruckus broke out after police tried to stop a Congress leader who walked to the polling station carrying a gas cylinder on his shoulder to protest against inflation. Such protest was seen in many other places too.
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The EC tweeted the picture of 104-year old Ramjibhai who, it said, "participated in the festival of democracy by voting at the polling station instead of opting for a postal ballot." At least 33 ballot units, 29 control units and 69 VVPATs were replaced in the first three hours of polling at different stations due to malfunctioning, the office of Chief Electoral Officer said in a statement.
"Around 0.1 per cent ballot units, 0.1 per cent control units and 0.3 per cent VVPATs have been replaced in three hours of voting. "Reserve machine sets are available in all districts with the zonal officer in-charge of that area. Wherever a small or big problem occurs, arrangements have been made to replace them in no time," it added.
Former chief minister Vijay Rupani, state BJP chief C R Paatil, Rajya Sabha member Parimal Nathwani, BJP candidate from Jamnagar (North) Rivaba Jadeja, former Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani, state Aam Aadmi Party president Gopal Italia were among those who voted early. While Rivaba Jadeja voted in Rajkot, her husband and cricketer Ravindra Jadeja voted in Jamnagar.
AAP's Italia questioned the slow turnout in the initial hours. "Voting is being deliberately slowed down in Katargam AC. @ECISVEEP If you have to work this way under the pressure of the BJP goons, then why are you holding elections?
An average of 3.5 percent voting was done in the entire state but only 1.41 per cent in Katargam. Don't stoop so low to defeat a small child," he said in a tweet. Voting for the second phase will be held on December 5, and counting of votes on December 8.
