Gujarat polls: Can the state beat its record turnout of 2012?

In the first phase of Assembly elections in 2012, around 18.1 million voters had decided the fate of 846 candidates in 87 constituencies, with a heavy turnout of 68%

With Gujarat voting in the first phase of its 2017 Assembly elections on Saturday for 89 constituencies, the contest seems neck and neck between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, say observers.

Voting for first phase began at 8 am on Saturday, with around 21,231,652 registered voters.

However, it is to be seen whether developments leading to the elections, be it the discontent arising out of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demonetisation being latched on by Congress or the all out efforts by BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and team, would result in the