Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday rained praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by saying that PM Modi's leadership is increasing India's reputation at the global level.
The voting began at 8 am to decide the fate of 788 candidates in 89 constituencies spread across 19 districts. The voter turnout was 48.48 per cent till 3 pm.
The state has been a BJP stronghold for long and the party has set its sights on returning to power for the seventh term. Modi has been Gujarat's longest-serving chief minister from 2001 till 2014.
The voting began at 8 am in 89 constituencies spread across 19 districts of Kutch, Saurashtra and South Gujarat on Thursday and will continue till 5 pm. The voter turnout was 34.65 per cent till 1 pm.
"There will be continuous observation from 6.30 am till the completion of the polling process. Live webcasting of more than 50 per cent of polling booths in the state to keep a close watch on the voting process during the assembly elections in Gujarat," said Gujarat's Chief Electoral Offi
As per the data from the ECI, Narmada recorded the voter turnout to be 46.13 per cent, Navsari was at 39.20 per cent, Porbandar was at 30.20 per cent, Rajkot was at 32.88 per cent, Surat was at 33.10 per cent, Surendranagar was at 34.18 per cent and Valsad was at 38.08 per cent.
Reacting to Congress' "Ravan" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that the people of Gujarat have always replied to Congress through the ballot box whenever they have used inappropriate words against PM Modi.
"We are advocating a change. Chief Ministers were changed so that they could feel anti-incumbency. There is a neck-to-neck fight here (Ankleshwar) yet I am confident that Congress will win," said Mumtaz Patel daughter of late Congress leader Ahmed Patel