Voting begins for first phase of Gujarat assembly elections

Voting for the first phase of the crucial Gujarat assembly polls began today on 89 seats of Saurashtra and South Gujarat regions.

After a campaign that often turned vituperative, around 2.12 crore voters would be exercising their franchise in Modi's home state to choose between the ruling BJP and the Congress.

A total of 977 candidates are in fray for the first phase polls.

Prominent candidates for today's battle include Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who is contesting from Rajkot (West), and Congress' Shaktisinh Gohil (Mandvi) and Paresh Dhanani (Amreli).

The election is viewed as a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a litmus test for the leadership of soon-to-be Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.

The campaign shaped up as a duel between Modi and Gandhi, and often turned personal.

The poll narrative kept changing with issues such as the Ayodhya title suit, Gandhi's imminent elevation as Congress president and his visits to temples being raised by BJP leaders.

Gandhi emerged as the Congress' pivot to take on the might of the prime minister on his home turf.

While Modi addressed about 15 rallies, Gandhi spent more than seven days in Saurashtra and south Gujarat, addressing a number of meetings. 

Also Read: Gujarat Elections: 397 'crorepati' candidates in fray for polls

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2018 की दिवाली राम मंदिर में जरूर बनाएगे : @Swamy39 | #GujaratRound1 #GujaratElection2017 LIVE https://t.co/kfFXrehZIb pic.twitter.com/ZVaK5SI8hD

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#GujaratElection2017 में राम मंदिर मामला ज्यादा जरूरी : @Swamy39 | #GujaratRound1 #GujaratElection2017 LIVE https://t.co/kfFXrehZIb pic.twitter.com/UAJd7PhxuM

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गुजरात में पहले राउंड की वोटिंग, 19 ज़िलों की 89 सीटों पर वोटिंग | #GujaratElection2017 #GujaratRound1 | pic.twitter.com/IT8gdeDrsB

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CM @vijayrupanibjp casts his vote in Rajkot. He is contesting against Congress’ Indranil Rajyaguru from Rajkot-West seat #GujaratElection2017 #GujaratRound1 pic.twitter.com/qSHiQQngoY

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गुजरात से भारी मतदान करने की अपील | #GujaratElection2017 #GujaratRound1 | pic.twitter.com/xSnIF9Lv6h

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