Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday cast his vote after waiting in a queue to exercise his right at a polling booth set up at a school in Sabarmati constituency of Ahmedabad district.
After casting the vote at the Nishan High School, he showed his inked finger to thousands of supporters who had gathered outside the school in Ranip locality of Sabaramati constituency, amid chants of "Modi, Modi".
The PM walked a certain distance to greet people standing on both sides of the road outside the polling booth. Later, he stood on the foot-board of his car and waived to the crowd.
વડાપ્રધાન શ્રી @narendramodi જીએ અમદાવાદના રાણીપ ખાતે મતદાન કર્યું તેની તસ્વીરી ઝલક #GujaratElection2017 pic.twitter.com/xawDenEN2Y
— BJP Gujarat (@BJP4Gujarat) December 14, 2017
Wonderful scenes for democracy as PM Modi stands in queue to cast his vote in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and a frenzied crowd cheering and greeting their beloved leader on the roads after he comes out of the polling booth! #Voted4Vikas pic.twitter.com/e4wCiii9Xx
— BJP (@BJP4India) December 14, 2017
Earlier on Thursday, PM Modi had urged the people of Gujarat to vote in record numbers in the second phase of the Assembly elections.
"Today is phase 2 of the Gujarat elections. I request all those voting today to vote in record numbers and enrich this festival of democracy," he had tweeted.
Today is Phase 2 of the Gujarat elections. I request all those voting today to vote in record numbers and enrich this festival of democracy.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 14, 2017
A total of 851 candidates are in the fray for 93 seats spread across 14 districts in north and central Gujarat in the second phase.
Prominent candidates in the fray for Thursday's battle include state Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who is contesting from Mehsana against Jivabhai Patel of Congress.
Alpesh Thakor, who joined the Congress, is seeking election from Radhanpur constituency. Lavingji Thakor of the BJP is contesting against him.
Vadgam SC seat is another key constituency from where independent candidate Jignesh Mevani is fighting the election on Congress support against BJP's Vijay Chakravarti.
In Maninagar, the constituency once represented by PM Modi, Congress has given a ticket to foreign-educated young face Sweta Bhrambhatt against BJP's sitting MLA Suresh Patel. PM Modi had vacated the constituency after becoming the PM in 2014.
The Gujarat contest is being seen as a prestige battle for PM Modi in his home state, where a reinvigorated Congress has sewed up a broad social coalition with prominent Patidar, OBC and Dalit leaders in its bid to unseat the BJP in power for over two decades.
The first phase of voting for the 182-member Assembly was held on December 9 and covered 89 seats. The counting of votes will be on December 18.
In the 2012 Gujarat Assembly polls, the BJP had won 115 seats, while the Congress had bagged 61.
(With PTI inputs)
