Record turnout of 71% during Gujarat polls

The assembly elections of 2012 recorded 71.32 per cent voting, which is highest in the history of the state. Prior to this the highest voting was recorded in 1995 with 64.39 per cent polling.

Of the 38 million eligible voters in the state, over 27.15 million voted in two phases of the polls held on December 13 and December 17 respectively. The counting of the votes will take place on December 20.

Nearly 73 per cent of male voters exercised their franchise, while 69.48 per cent women came out to vote during the two phase polling.

The tribal district of South Gujarat registered highest voters turnout. As many as 50 per cent of district, that is, 13 out of 26, have had more than 70 per cent voting turnout.

 

The tribal district of Narmada with 82.21 per cent voting which is the highest among all districts, followed by Tapi (80.43%), Navsari (75.59 %), Sabarkantha (75.56%), Bharuch (75.11%), Banaskantha and Anand with 74.89% each.

As many as 1666 candidates were in fray for the 182 seats of the state assembly. These elections is being considered as litmus test for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's prospects for a role in the national politics. However, the senior BJP leader denied he had such ambitions. "I am happy in Gujarat. I am committed to the people of Gujarat. I believe, I am also serving the nation by serving Gujarat. Gujarat is not outside our country," Modi said after casting his vote during the second phase of polling on Monday.

Record turnout in the first and second phases of Gujarat elections has triggered a wave of excitement in the political circles in the state. While analysts perceive this as the enthusiasm of voters, some believe it to be driven by factors such as caste-based campaigning and the emergence of a third front.

"Gujarat polls are more interesting this time as a the third front has emerged from the earlier two-party politics. Also, caste-based campaigning has drawn more crowd for polling. This appears to create a newer tendency of Indian politics," said Manishi Jani, a writer and social analyst.

For many analysts, a record turnout of voters for the state assembly elections would prove to be decisive in forming the next government. "Such huge turnout means voters have decided for something. This is going to be a decisive outcome. It appears that voters have adopted a business-like approach (to choose the government)," said Y K Alagh, former member of Planning Commission and prominent economist.

"Unlike 2002 and 2007, there are no great emotional issues this time. But it is equally difficult to predict which way the swing will happen," said Alagh.