Modi confident of retaining power in Gujarat

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today reiterated his claim that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will post a historic win in the assembly elections.

Ahmedabad/Vadodra, Dec 16 : Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today reiterated his claim that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will post a historic win in the assembly elections.

"BJP will win with a huge margin. The people of Gujarat are all set to decide the future of the state and it will be a historic win for us," said Modi.

Team India's Irfan Pathan also exercised his franchise.

"This is the first time I am voting and I appeal to the people that they should come out and exercise their right," said Pathan.

BJP Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani and his wife were also among the first few voters to turn up at the polling booth.

"Anti-incumbency within the BJP, if any, will not have any effect on the party's performance in the state assembly elections. Normally anti-incumbency factor is associated with sitting MLAs and candidates. But BJP has made certain changes (appointment of candidates) which will prove to be beneficial for the party," said Advani.

A female voter said that the people had given a chance to the BJP, but this time Congress would be voted to power.

"We have seen what BJP has done when elected to power. This time, we will vote for Congress," said Farat Pathan.

Voting for the second and the final phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections began amidst tight security.

Polling is on in the remaining 95 constituencies of the total 182 seats, which are spread over eleven districts in the central and northern parts of the state.

A total of 18.7 million people are expected to decide the fate of 599 candidates who are in the fray.

Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure that the voting is held in a free and fair manner.

Tight security arrangements have been made in Anand, Nadiad, Karamsad, Khambhat, Sujitra, Khadga and other assembly segments.

Over 50,000 security personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order in the state.

Besides the state police, around 574 central paramilitary companies have also been pressed into service to instil a sense of security among the voters.

The Election Commission has set up 20,545 polling stations in the 95 constituencies. Besides, the Commission has directed the videographing at all stations.

Apart from this, the Commission has deployed over 4,800 micro-observers to prevent bogus voting and to keep away miscreants from the poll process.

One lakh twenty three thousand state, central government and public sector officials have been engaged to conduct the poll.

While the fight is mainly between the BJP and the Congress, the Bahujan Samaj Party is also contesting independently.

Around 60 percent of the Gujarat electorate voted during the first phase of Assembly elections on December 11.

Voting was held in 87 constituencies during its first phase. Of these, 58 constituencies were located in Saurashtra and Kutch regions, and 29 in South Gujarat.

The counting of votes will take place on December 23.

The term of the State's Legislative Assembly expires on December 26.

In the last Assembly elections, the BJP managed to win 127 seats, while the Congress party was able to win only 51 seats. The Janata Dal (United) and independents had won two seats each.

ANI