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Polling for the Gujarat assembly elections amidst tight security
December 12, 2002 09:37 IST
Polling for the Gujarat assembly elections began amidst tight security on Thursday morning.
About 37,000 polling booths admitted voters from 0800 IST; an estimated 3.28 crore people are expected to exercise
their franchise to elect their representatives in the poll.
Election to the Surat City (West) assembly seat has been countermanded following the death of BJP candidate and Gujarat Law Minister Hemant Chapatwala.
The 1000 candidates whose fate will be decided today include Chief Minister Narendra Modi and senior Congress leader Amarsinh Chaudhary.
Nearly 40,000 paramilitary personnel along with the state's 70,000 policemen would provide security during the voting. The elections are to be witnessed by 17 diplomats from the US, Britain, European Union, the Netherlands, Italy and
Sweden.
Gujarat's borders have been sealed and Coast Guard has stepped up vigil along the coastline to prevent anti-social elements from entering the state and creating trouble during the polls.
As many as 14,707 polling booths in 22 out 25 districts have been declared 'sensitive' by the Election Commission.
Modi, who is contesting from Maninagar constituency in Ahmedabad, cast his vote in the Sarkhej constituency soon after the polling began.
He cast his vote at a booth at the Navchetan Primary School in the Ranip area of Sarkhej locality.
Electronic Voting Machines will be used in all the constituencies and counting will be held on Sunday.
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