Over 60 per cent vote in Guj local bodies polls

Over 60 per cent polling was registered for the second and final phase of local bodies' elections in Gujarat today, which passed peacefully barring a few incidents.
The elections to local bodies, including municipalities, district and taluka panchayats, are seen as a litmus test for ruling BJP against the backdrop of the quota stir by Patels.
However, at some places only few people turned up for voting following boycott announced by villagers.
In the second phase, polling for 7,862 seats of various semi-urban and rural local bodies was held in a peaceful manner barring a few incidents.
As per the tentative figures released by the State Election Commission (SEC) tonight, average voter turnout for 31 district panchyat polls was around 65 to 67 per cent, average turnout for 230 taluka panchayats was around 65 to 67 per cent and the average voting for 56 municipalities was 62 to 64 per cent.

Exact figures of the voter turn out is expected to be disclosed tomorrow. Counting will be held on December 2.

Congress is seeing their victory in this high voter turnout, as their senior leader Ahmed Patel termed it as a 'wave of change'.
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel also thanked voters for coming out in high numbers.
"I thank all the voters for showing such enthusiasm for local body polls. I am also happy that election got over without any untoward incident, as people gave preference to the 'politics of development'" she said.
Both BJP as well as Congress remained at loggerheads during polling. While BJP lodged an official complaint against Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki for poll code breach, a Congress candidate's relatives in Dahod district alleged that rival BJP candidate abducted him.

As per the complaint given to SEC by BJP's legal cell, Solanki went inside the booth in Anand and gave his vote wearing a piece of cloth around his neck having party symbol, which is in violation of code.
In Zalod town of Dahod district, relatives of Congress district panchayat candidate Kirit Damor alleged that rival BJP candidate Bhavesh Katara abducted Damor during polling.
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In the same town, an unruly mob stormed into a polling booth and allegedly tried to influence the election process.
When polling staff resisted, they broke two EVM machines, after which, police rushed to the spot and controlled the situation, said an official.

Minor scuffles were also reported in Pardi village of Valsad district, where a Congress supporter allegedly slapped a BJP worker during polling, said local police, who registered a case in this regard.
In Bagasara town of Amreli district, police fired two rounds in the air to disperse a crowd near polling booth.
"As soon as the voting ended, large number of people gathered outside a booth in Bagasara. When they tried to go inside the booth without any particular reason, police fired two rounds in the air to disperse them. No one was hurt in the firing," said Amreli SP Antrip Sood.

All polling booths in Gozaria town of Mehsana district wore a deserted look as locals boycotted the district and taluka panchayat polls to protest against non-declaration of a separate taluka of Gozaria.
Similarly, a village in Amreli district also boycotted the polls to protest against lack of basic amenities.
Around 1,000 voters of Bhaniya village of Khambha taluka have today refrained from using their franchise as mark of their protest. These locals have been demanding proper roads and other amenities since long.
Voting was held for the election of 31 district panchayats, 230 taluka panchayats and 56 municipalities.
Fate of over 19,000 candidates was sealed in the EVM machines and counting of votes will be held on December 2.

In the first phase, 45 per cent turnout was witnessed for the elections to six municipal corporations.