Gujarat records 62 per cent voter turnout

Ahmedabad: An impressive 62 per cent turnout was registered today at all 26 Lok Sabha seats of Gujarat as voters came out in large numbers braving intense heat wave to exercise their right to franchise.The voters turnout registered a sharp increase of 14 per cent as compared to 47.92 per cent of 2009.“The state has recorded 61.94 per cent voter turnout in the Lok Sabha election. The election was held in peaceful conditions without any major untoward incident,” said chief electoral officer (CEO) of the state Anita Karwal.The election officials said that with the exception of some sporadic clashes between workers of different political parties, the polls were peaceful.Karwal also said complaints of technical errors were reported in the EVMs at some places. “Acting on it, the EC has then changed 50 control units and 54 ballot units.”However, the election, which was by and large peaceful, witnessed a ripple with the Election Commission ordering registration of FIR against Chief Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by addressing the media showcasing the Lotus symbol of his party after casting his vote.The city crime branch has registered two FIRs against Modi as per the direction of EC. Meanwhile, there were complaints of deletion of names from voters list in some areas, said election officials.Vadodara seat, from where Modi made his debut in Lok Sabha elections, witnessed enthusiasm among voters as turnout was around 70 per cent this time from 49 per cent in 2009. Modi is pitted against Congress leader Madhusudan Mistry there.Voters from nearly all walks of life, including politicians, businessmen and others from various fields, exercised their right to franchise. Prominent among those who cast their voter were Modi, BJP patriarch L K Advani, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Arun Jaitley, Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Madhusuadan Mistry, the Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Shankarsinh Waghela among others.State Governor Kamla Beniwal also cast her vote at a school in Sector 20 area of Gandhinagar from where Advani is in the fray.Business tycoons Gautam Adani and Parimal Nathwani cast their votes in Ahmedabad West Lok Sabha constituency.Cricketer Cheteswar Pujara, who is the election commission ambassador for spreading awareness among voters, also cast his vote along with his family members. According to Election Commission, the highest turnout (78%) was registered in South Gujarat's Narmada district whereas the least in Porbandar district in Saurashtra region at 46 per cent.As far as the regions are concerned, South Gujarat remained at top in scoring voting percentage, followed by the northern part of the state. Whereas moderate voting was recorded in Central Gujarat and Saurashtra regions.The voter turnout in South Gujarat region is: Tapi (77.50%), Dangs (75.90%), Valsad (72.60%), Navsari (69.39%), Chhota Udepur (68%), Bharuch (65%) and Dahod (65%).In northern districts, the maximum voting percentage was recorded in Sabarkantha (70%) while Modi's hometown Mehsana came second with 66%.Apart from these two districts, Banaskantha, Aravalli and Patan regions recorded turnout at 60%, 64% and 59% respectively.The voting percentage in districts in Saurashtra is as follows: Gir-Somanath (65%) Surendranagar (54%), Morbi (55%), Rajkot (58%), Jamnagar (59.42%), Devbhoomi Dwarka (54.22%), Amreli (53.45%), Junagadh (53%), Bhavnagar (59%) and Botad (54%).Kutch-Bhuj district recorded 60 per cent voter turnout. In Central Gujarat, Vadodara has recorded the highest turnout at 70%, followed by Anand (65%), Ahmedabad (62.30%), Gandhinagar (62%), Kheda (56%) and Mahisagar (55.35%).The Union Territories of Diu-Daman and Dadra Nagar Haweli witnessed a record voting percentage at 79% and 84%, respectively.