Gujarat Polls:70 Electronic Voting Machines Malfunction in Surat

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and his wife Anjali Rupani were among the first to vote as polling started for 89 of 182 constituencies in the first phases of assembly elections in the state.

 Reports say 70 Electronic Voting Machines had malfunctioned in Surat, some of which were later restored. Kutch, Saurashtra and south Gujarat are voting today after a bitter and personal campaign between the Congress and the BJP.

For the last two days, suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar's "neech" slur against Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dominated the campaign. PM Modi, in a tweet this morning, urged people to come out and vote in large numbers.

Mr Rupani and his wife cast their votes from Rajkot. The chief minister is from Saurashtra's Rajkot-West seat, the most-watched in today's contest. His main challenger is Indranil Rajyaguru, who is the richest man in the state assembly. "People should come out in large numbers to vote. We are very confident, no question of any challenge," he said after casting his vote.

The 89 constituencies that vote today are in 19 districts. The ruling BJP holds 67 of these seats and the Congress 16, while the others are held by smaller parties and Independents. Saurashtra and Kutch have the maximum number of constituencies that vote in the first phase and are seen as crucial. The party that wins the most seats in these regions will be seen to have a head start.

Located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, Saurashtra covers 11 districts has a huge population of the influential Patels or Patidars, who have been demanding that they be included among castes that get benefits of affirmative action.

Rahul Gandhi, who is set to be the Congress chief, has strategically inducted Backward caste (OBC) leader Alpesh Thakore and enlisted the support of Mr Mevani and Hardik Patel, the 24-year-old face of the Patel or Patidar agitation, in his attempt to oust the BJP, in power in the state for the last 22 years.

Gujarat BJP chief Jitu Vaghani voted in Bhavnagar, barely 15 minutes after polling began. "We are going to win more than 150-seats under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we face no obstacles," he said after casting his vote.

Mr Mevani and Mr Thakore are also in fray today. Mr Mevani, a Dalit leader, is contesting from Vadgam as an Independent. Backward caste (OBC) leader Mr Thakore joined the Congress ahead of the elections and is contesting from Radhanpur. 

Other major contests feature senior minister Babubhai Bokhiria, the Congress' Arjun Modhwadia and former Finance and Power Minister Saurabh Patel.

The battle for the 12 seats in Surat, the diamond and textile hub and a BJP stronghold, is being seen as a referendum on the notes ban and new national tax GST.

 Rahul Gandhi has urged traders to punish the BJP, alleging that its mega reforms have brought small business to their knees. For the BJP, Union ministers Arun Jaitley and Smriti Irani have defended the GST and demonetisation, trying to allay the concerns of the traders.

PM Modi has led the BJP A-listers in the party's campaign, pitching the Gujarat election as a contest between "vikaswaad (development) and vanshwaad (dynasty) in an attack on Rahul Gandhi, who faced no opposition in the party's internal elections. 

"The Congress, including their topmost leaders, have abused me in deplorable language," PM Modi said, declaring that his home state will "take revenge on voting day."

The second phase of voting in the rest of the state will be held on Thursday, The results will be declared on December 18.