Live updates — Gujarat Assembly second phase: 7 pc voting till 9 am

AHMEDABAD: BJP president Amit Shah today cast his vote at a polling booth in the Naranpura area here and appealed to the public to come out to vote in large numbers to carry forward the journey of development He came to the polling booth at the Naranpura sub-zonal office to cast vote along with his wife Sonal Shah and son Jay Shah. I would like to appeal to the voters to come out in large numbers to cast their vote to take ahead the journey of development Amit Shah told reporters after coming out of the polling booth. He said the development model of Gujarat is praised across the country . I believe this tempo should be maintained and the people should vote in large numbers to give a befitting reply to those opposing the Gujarat model he said. After casting his vote the BJP chief went to the Kameshwar Shiva temple with his family members to offer prayers. In a message posted in Gujarati language on Twitter he said Today is the second and final phase of voting and the BJP has fulfilled the trust of the people since last two decades through its world-class developmental works. Every single vote of yours is important to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi so that the journey of development continues. I would appeal to all voters in this phase to vote in large numbers he said in the message. Amit Shah was an MLA from Naranpura Assembly constituency before getting elected to the Rajya Sabha in August this year. In 2012 he won from this constituency with over one lakh votes. The party has this time fielded Kaushikbhai Patel to contest against Congress s Nitin Patel. The voting for the second and final phase of Gujarat assembly elections is underway today on 93 seats of North and Central Gujarat. After an acrimonious campaign around 2.22 crore voters would be exercising their franchise today to choose between the two main contenders the BJP and the Congress. A total of 851 candidates are in fray for the second phase. The first phase of voting held on December 9 covered 89 seats of the 182-member House. The election is being seen as a prestige battle for Prime Minister Modi and a litmus test for the leadership of Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi. In the 2012 assembly polls the BJP had won 115 seats while the Congress bagged 61. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 18. AHMEDABAD: Voting for the second and final phase of Gujarat assembly elections began today on 93 seats of North and Central Gujarat. After an acrimonious campaign around 2.22 crore voters would be exercising their franchise to choose between the two main contenders the BJP and the Congress. A total of 851 candidates are in the fray for the second phase. Prominent candidates in the fray for today s battle include state deputy chief minister Nitin Patel who is contesting from Mehsana Alpesh Thakor (Radhanpur) and Jignesh Mevani (Vadgam). In Maninagar the constituency once represented by Prime Minister Naredra Modi Congress has given ticket to foreign- educated young face Sweta Bhrambhatt against BJP s sitting MLA Suresh Patel. Modi had vacated the constituency after becoming the PM in 2014. The first phase of voting for the 182-member house held on December 9 covered 89 seats. The election is being seen as a prestige battle for Prime Minister Modi and a litmus test for the leadership of Congress President-elect Rahul Gandhi. The battlefield Gujarat which witnessed a vitriolic campaign goes into the decisive phase today in the elections being viewed as precursor to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The influential Patidar community which accounts for around 12 per cent of the state s population could prove to be the X factor in the polls. Patidar quota warrior Hardik Patel has pledged support to the Congress and appealed to the people to uproot the BJP this time. The campaign shaped up as a duel between Modi and Gandhi and often turned personal. Gandhi emerged as the Congress pivot to take on the might of the prime minister on his home turf. In the 2012 assembly polls the BJP had won 115 seats while the Congress bagged 61. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 18. Gujarat elections second phase 2017: Polling is being held on 93 assembly seats in 14 districts The people of Gujarat are voting in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017. Voting started at 8 am and will end at 5 pm. 851 candidates are fighting it out. Polling is being held on 93 Gujarat assembly seats in 14 districts in north and central parts of the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who led an aggressive election campaign for the BJP. Gujarat has 182 assembly seats. The BJP has been in power in Gujarat for the last 22 years. The Congress is also looking to make a comeback in Gujarat; party president-elect Rahul Gandhi led the Congress campaign for the Gujarat assembly polls. According to the Election Commission 2.22 crore people are eligible to vote in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017. The first phase of polling was held on 89 assembly constituencies in Saurashtra and south Gujarat regions on December 9. The voting turnout was 68 per cent that day according to the Election Commission.Here are the live updates of the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017: Dec 14 201711:27 (IST)Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki votes in AnandGujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki has voted in Anand in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017. In Ahmedabad voter turnout till 10 am has been reported at 9.6 per cent. The Gujarat assembly polls are being seen as a prestige battle for Prime Minister Modi who belongs to Gujarat and also the first major test of leadership for Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi. Counting of votes is on December 18.Dec 14 201711:20 (IST)Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer BB Swain votes in GandhinagarGujarat Chief Electoral Officer BB Swain casts his vote in Gandhinagar in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017. Both the Congress and the BJP ran a high-decibel campaign ahead of the Gujarat assembly elections. The BJP has been in power in PM Modi s home state for the last 22 years. The Congress is also hoping to win in Gujarat and has struck a deal with Patidar or Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani.Dec 14 201710:53 (IST)Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel votes in MehsanaGujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel has cast his vote in Mehsana s Kadi in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017. He is contesting against the Congress s Jivabhai Patel on this seat. In November Nitin Patel accused senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal of misleading the Patels . Nitin Patel said Mr Sibal a lawyer himself had argued before the top court in 90s against increasing the reservation quota and now he is advocating the quota demand by young leader Hardik Patel-led outfit Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS).Dec 14 201710:44 (IST)Hardik Patel votes in ViramgamPatidar or Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel has cast his vote in Viramgam. Hardik Patel who is 24 years old is too young to contest elections. He has pledged support to the Congress in Gujarat where the BJP has been in power for the last 22 years. Hardik Patel has accused the BJP in Gujarat for doing little for the benefit of the Patidar or Patel community. I think Congress will win. BJP will lose. I m confident and don t need to prepare an appeal to vote for your future Hardik Patel said after casting his vote.Dec 14 201710:34 (IST)Continue journey of development says Amit ShahAfter casting his vote in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017 BJP president Amit Shah said I would like to appeal to the voters to come out in large numbers to cast their vote to take ahead the journey of development. He cast his vote at a polling booth in Naranpura news agency PTI reported. His wife Sonal Shah and son Jay Shah also cast their vote. I believe this tempo should be maintained and the people should vote in large numbers to give a befitting reply to those opposing the Gujarat model Amit Shah said. He then went to Kameshwar Shiva temple with his family members.Dec 14 201710:17 (IST)Stocks open in green as Gujarat votes in second phaseThe Sensex opened in the green by jumping 117 points today on value-buying in blue-chips ahead of exit poll results for the Gujarat assembly elections 2017. Asian stocks moved sideways news agency PTI reported. The NSE Nifty went above the 10 200-mark. The 30-share BSE index was up 116.70 points or 0.35 per cent at 33 169.74. The Sensex had lost 402.75 in the previous two sessions disappointed by grim economic data and the ADB lowering India s economic growth forecast. Analysts said optimistic buying by participants ahead of exit poll results for the Gujarat assembly polls later in the day had a bearing on mood.Dec 14 201710:15 (IST)EVM stopped working for 50 minutes says polling officer The EVM in Sankheda s Sodhaliya village in Chhota Udaipur was not working for 50 minutes so voting was halted for that duration polling officer Gaurang Rana told news agency ANI on the day when the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017 is being held. We fixed the machine and now the voting is underway Mr Rana said. Some electronic voting machines had to be replaced during the first phase of the Gujarat assembly polls on December 9 after they malfunctioned.Polling officer Gaurang Rana.Dec 14 201710:04 (IST)Arun Jaitley casts his vote in Ahmedabad s VejalpurFinance Minister Arun Jaitley stands in a queue at a polling booth in Ahmedabad s Vejalpur to cast his vote in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) and last year s demonetisation will come into play in the mind of voters as they vote in the Gujarat assembly polls. Arun Jaitley recently said the economic expansion recorded in July-September period marks the reversal of the declining trend of growth seen in the last few quarters. I appeal to the people of Gujarat to vote in large numbers continue the journey of development Arun Jaitley said.Dec 14 201709:45 (IST)Shankersinh Vaghela votes in GandhinagarJan Vikalp leader Shankersinh Vaghela has cast his vote in Gandhinagar s Vasan village in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections 2017. In 1996 when he had walked out of the BJP Mr Vaghela had floated the Rashtriya Janata Party. He later merged the party with the Congress. Two decades later Mr Vaghela angry at not being projected as presumptive chief minister of the party in the Gujarat assembly polls led a revolt against the Congress in the run-up to the Rajya Sabha polls earlier this year.Dec 14 201709:28 (IST)BJP chief Amit Shah votes in Ahmedabad s NaranpuraBJP president Amit Shah has cast his vote in Naranpura in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017. The BJP has been in power in Gujarat Prime Minister Narendra Modi s home state for the past 22 years. Amit Shah on Wednesday criticised former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who in a video statement said he is deeply hurt by Prime Minister Narendra Modi s allegations that he colluded with Pakistani guests at a dinner and discussed the Gujarat assembly polls. The journey of development has begun. Vote in large numbers. Participate in this festival of democracy. The Gujarat model is talked about across the world... Amit Shah said.Dec 14 201709:06 (IST)Hardik Patel s parents cast their votePatel Bharat Patel and Usha Patel the parents of Patidar or Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel have cast their votes in Viramgam in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017. Hardik Patel who is 24 years old is too young to contest the Gujarat assembly polls. He has however pledged support to the Congress in Gujarat.Hardik Patel s mother speaks to reporters after casting her vote in the Gujarat assembly polls 2017.Dec 14 201708:33 (IST)PM Modi s mother casts her vote in GandhinagarHiraben the mother of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cast her vote at a polling booth in Gandhinagar in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017. Voting in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly polls will end at 5 pm. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also cast his vote in the second phase today. May god bless Gujarat she told the reporters as she came out after casting her vote.Dec 14 201708:28 (IST)Anandiben Patel votes in Ahmedabad s GhatlodiaFormer Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel casts her vote in Ahmedabad s Ghatlodia in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017. BJP s Bhupendra Patel is up against Congress s Shashikant Patel on this assembly seat. The results of the Gujarat assembly polls will be announced on December 18. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi have tweeted asking people to vote in record numbers.Dec 14 201708:23 (IST)Voting underway in Hardik Patel s hometownVoting is underway in Viramgam s polling booth number 252 in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017. This is Patidar or Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel s home town. Hardik Patel has said he will try to bring down the BJP in Gujarat; the party has been in power in Prime Minister Narendra Modi s home state for 22 years. The BJP is guilty of failing to support the demand of Patidars its loyal votebank for decades Hardik Patel has said.Dec 14 201708:19 (IST)Hardik Patel s mother praysThe mother of Hardik Patel the Patidar or Patel quota agitation leader prays as voting for the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017 starts. Hardik Patel has called the Gujarat elections a people versus the BJP battle. During campaigning he said it should be a people s victory not someone s defeat . Hardik Patel is 24 years old and so is too young to contest elections. He has pledged support for the Congress after much back and forth.Dec 14 201708:03 (IST)Voting starts in 93 seatsVoting has started in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017. Voting will end at 5 pm. 851 candidates are fighting it out on 93 Gujarat assembly seats in 14 districts. The Election Commission says 2.22 crore people are eligible to vote in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly polls. Voter turnout in the first phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017 was 68 per cent according to the Election Commission.Dec 14 201707:54 (IST)BJP s act of desperation says P Chidambaram on EC notice to Rahul Gandhi Yesterday PM made a speech. BJP s President gave an interview. Railway Minister gave an interview. Why have all these escaped the EC s attention? Why pick on only Mr Rahul Gandhi s interview? BJP petitioning the Election Commission is an act of desperation. An interview after the campaign ended is the norm for every candidate and every campaigner in every election Congress leader P Chidambaram tweeted as the people of Gujarat vote in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017. People wait outside a polling booth to cast their vote in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017.Dec 14 201707:45 (IST)Big challenge for BJP in Vadodara and AhmedabadThe big challenge that the BJP faces in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017 is to keep its control of Ahmedabad and Vadodara two big cities in Prime Minister Narendra Modi s home state that had backed the party in the last election with a huge majority. The Bharatiya Janata Party won 26 of the 31 seats from these two districts alone in the last Gujarat assembly polls.Polling officials check documents and electronic voting machines or EVMs for the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017.Dec 14 201707:36 (IST) Vote for a change of government... : P Chidambaram To my fellow citizens of Gujarat: Every vote matters. Just go out and vote. Vote for a change of government after 22 years... Don t underestimate the power of your vote. Every vote can bring about change former Finance Minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram tweeted as the people of Gujarat vote in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017. The first phase of polling was held on 89 assembly constituencies in Saurashtra and south Gujarat regions on December 9. The voting turnout was 68 per cent that day according to the Election Commission.Dec 14 201707:27 (IST) Enrich this festival of democracy says PM Modi 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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted today. The second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017 will be held on 93 assembly seats in 14 districts in north and central parts of the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Dec 14 201707:08 (IST) Some of the key candidates in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017 are: Vallabh Kakadiya (BJP) from Thakkar Bapanagar Jaynarayan Vyas (BJP) from Siddhpur Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel (BJP) from Mehsana Jignesh Mevani (independent with Congress support) from Vadgam and Kirit Patel (Congress candidate and one of the convenors of Hardik Patel s PAAS) from Patan.Dec 14 201706:36 (IST) A total of 28 114 electronic voting machines or EVMs will be used in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017; the total number of polling booths in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly polls 2017 is 25 558 according to the Election Commission. 851 candidates are fighting it out; of them 782 are male and 69 female.Dec 14 201706:23 (IST) 2.22 crore people are eligible to vote in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017; of them 1.07 crore are female voters and 1.15 crore are male voters according to the Election Commission. The highest number of voters is in the age group of 26 to 40 years at 80 91 737. The second-highest number of voters is in the age group of 41 to 60 years at 74 15 727 according to the Election Commission.Dec 14 201706:14 (IST) Voting for the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election 2017 will start at 8 am and end at 5 pm. The voter turnout in the first phase of the Gujarat assembly polls 2017 on December 9 was 68 per cent according to the Election Commission. Voting will be held on 93 assembly seats in Gujarat.No more content AHMEDABAD: Polling for 93 seats in the second and final phase of assembly elections in Gujarat is being held today when around 2.22 crore people will vote. Counting of votes for all 182 seats will be held on Monday. Phase two elections are being held for 61 seats in central Gujarat and 32 constituencies in north Gujarat. Live updates: Polling underway in second phase of Gujarat elections Polling percentage in these areas was 72.64% in 2012 elections. But looking at the trend in the first phase when voter turnout for 89 seats in Saurashtra and South Gujarat dropped to 66.75% the number could go down despite intensive campaigning by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Prominent candidates in the fray for today s battle include state deputy chief minister Nitin Patel who is contesting from Mehsana Alpesh Thakor (Radhanpur) and Jignesh Mevani (Vadgam). Gujarat polls: TOI s interactive data hub The rhetoric for the second phase got vicious with Modi alleging that Pakistan was playing a role in Gujarat polls through Congress and that there was a plan to install Sonia Gandhi s political secretary Ahmed Patel as CM. This evoked an angry response from former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who sought an apology from Modi for spreading falsehoods and canards . In 2012 of these 93 seats BJP won 52 seats and Congress 39. BJP will derive comfort from the fact that out of 23 urban seats which fall in Ahmedabad Vadodara and Gandhinagar municipal corporations the party holds 21. Many of the seats have been won four or five times since 1990 when BJP came to power for the first time. But while the two parties shared the spoils in semi-urban areas in these two regions Congress had a clear edge in rural seats winning 28 seats against BJP s 20. These included the 13 ST reserved seats where Congress won 10. (With inputs from agencies) Shares of Gujarat government-owned companies are witnessing a sell-off ahead of the state election results amid heightened uncertainty about the Bharatiya Janata Party s prospects in the polls. Shares of Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals (GSFC) Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) and Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals (GNFC) have dropped 10-15 per cent since November 1 after rallying strongly for the previous three months. The mid-cap index gained 0.8 per cent and the small-cap index rose 1.6 per cent since November. Analysts said investors are worried that if BJP loses the Gujarat state elections the prospects of these companies would turn hazy. Investors fear that uncertainty post-election results could adversely impact the state owned companies which have shown tremendous growth under BJP government said G Chokkalingam CEO Equinomics Research & Advisory Services. Prior to November these stocks had run up on expectations that BJP would win the elections. Despite prepoll survey projecting a BJP victory market participants are nervous. AHMEDABAD: The epicentre of Patidar-Thakor agitation north Gujarat will vote on Thursday as will central Gujarat which has a number of urban seats both of which are considered BJP strongholds. While Congress is banking on anti-incumbency influence of Patidar leader Hardik Patel and Thakor leader Alpesh Thakor on voters and traditional hold in the Charotar region the BJP is counting on sustained support in urban areas in central Gujarat and a consolidation of non-Patidar and OBCs in north Gujarat. Congress had several of its sitting MLAs in these areas many of whom have defected to BJP. The PM has already addressed two rallies in Banaskantha a hub of OBCs that has always seen a keen contest. This is a good thing for BJP. The faces the Congress has put up are all new and have less organisational support. Our ground work and bhaichaara (brotherhood) meetings to bring other communities to vote for us are going on well said a BJP leader who did not wish to be identified. I n the Congress camp members said that hundreds of PAAS (Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti led by Hardik Patel) workers have moved to north Gujarat to mobilise Patidar votes for Congress candidates. Our main outreach mechanism is through WhatsApp and we are sincerely appealing to people of our community to vote for Congress for the sake of rights and dignity said Mehul Patel a PAAS volunteer. PM Modi s hometown of Vadnagar is also part of the politically crucial Mehsana district in north Gujarat which has seven assembly seats. In the six districts of north Gujarat Banaskantha Patan Sabarkantha Mehsana Gandhinagar and Aravalli the Patels may end up being the decisive voters. Congress is especially confident of the support of Leuva Patels many of whom are settled around the Charotar region. Even if it is just this time the Patidar vote will go against BJP. That is the level of anger said Rahul Patel of Mehsana. In central Gujarat BJP had won 37 of the 61 seats in 2012. Of these it won 26 with a margin of over 10%. In Charotar region BJP hopes that former CM Shankarsinh Vaghela s decision to quit Congress would help it improve its tally. In Vaghela s own constituency of Kapadvanj there is a four-cornered contest with an NCP candidate and a BJP rebel fighting as an independent in the fray. The impact of KHAM (Kshatriya-Harijan-Adivasi-Muslim combine targeted by Congress in the 1980s) isprevalent even today with several Congress households having at least one government job said Badal Patel a poultry farmer in Anand. But even in Congress strongholds such as Borsad which have never voted for BJP people want change. So anything can happen he said. Last week BJP president Amit Shah had addressed two public meetings in Central Gujarat including one in Borsad. Written by Avinash Nair | Viramgam | Updated: December 13 2017 4:59 pm On the last day of campaigning Hardik Patel wound up with a roadshow in Vadodara. (Express photo/Bhupendra Rana) Related News Gujarat Assembly elections Live Updates: PAAS leader Hardik Patel casts vote in ViramgramGujarat Assembly elections: I hereby declare Manisha VakilGujarat assembly elections: In heritage city Ahmedabad voters talk of peace and prices not heritageAmong the 93 Gujarat seats going to polls Thursday a showpiece is Viramgam home to Patidar leader Hardik Patel and site of a Maruti Suzuki car plant as well as a Japanese industrial park. The Congress is confident of victory while the BJP expects a close finish. There is a lot of attention on Viramgam this election agreed S T Patel a former councillor of BJP-ruled Viramgam municipality. People say this is the hometown of Hardik Patel but he has little influence here. If he holds an election gathering here he will find it difficult to gather 200-300 people. One of 21 constituencies in Ahmedabad district Viramnagar has 2.71 lakh voters about one-eighth of them Patidars while Thakors are the largest segment accounting for more than one-sixth of the electorate. Among the BJP s worries is a local Rajput candidate who is contesting as an independent. When I say we will win I am not claiming a huge margin. We expect the victory margin to be between 2 000-3 000 votes. It will be that close said Patel. He also took note of complaints against the performance of the BJP-led Viramgam municipality in the two years since being elected. But in a polarised town as ours all Hindus will end up voting for the BJP he hoped. That day Patel was the only person manning the party office in the Viramgam town where temple masts and domes of mosques coexist in close vicinity. Jilubhai Desai who provides cable TV services and declares himself a Narendra Modi fan later walked into the BJP office. Read | Gujarat Assembly elections: 34 rallies by PM Modi 30 by Rahul Gandhi plus his 12 temple visits Patel agreed that the BJP might be banking too much on the clean image of candidate Dr Tejashreeben Patel the sitting MLA from Viramgam. She had won the seat as a Congress candidate in 2012 then quit before the Rajya Sabha polls in August this year and joined the BJP. She is pitted this time against senior Congress leader Lakha Bharwad an OBC. In 2012 Dr Tejashree Patel had caused surprise by trouncing the BJP candidate. The BJP used to say Hardik Patel was a protégé of Tejashree and blamed the Congress for the Patidar agitation. Now Tejashreeben has switched parties but I think the BJP misses the leadership of Modi as chief minister said Desai the service provider. Read | Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017: In campaign s last hour seaplane is star attraction Elsewhere in the town Lalabhai Jaiswal was selling lemonade from his cart. We voted against the BJP and elected Tejashreeben last time. Then she went and joined the opposite camp. Now who will trust her? Jaiswal said. Amtaji Vadaniya a labourer who attended a rally addressed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on the outskirts of Viramgam Monday expressed similar feelings. I think the Congress will win this time he said. Asked why he replied The former Congress MLA from here Tejashreeben was bought over by the BJP. Now do you think I will vote for her again? Also Read | Strong undercurrent against BJP a big shift is coming here says Rahul Local Congressmen such as Govind Parikh question the development model of the BJP. The Japanese have set up an industrial park near Mandal. Maruti Suzuki has also set up a facility nearby Parikh said. But these industrial units offer few job opportunities to locals. The land is taken away from us but jobs do not come as promised. At his rally Monday Rahul alleged 6.5 lakh acres have been acquired by the Gujarat government in the last 22 years and given away to 10 or 12 industrialists. He said the Gujarat government has been too liberal in accommodating the Tata Nano project in Sanand next door. Neither you nor the farmers get Narmada waters. But Tata Nano gets it. You get electricity at night Tata Nano gets 24-hour power supply Rahul said about the car manufacturing unit set up in 2008. Also Read | Prime Minister wraps up: Reply to Opposition lies take Gujarat to new heights Prime Minister Modi who addressed a rally in Sanand the day before Rahul was in Viramgam referred to the phenomonal growth of Sanand as a manufacturing zone. Apart from Tata Nano and Ford Motors and other foreign automobile component manufactuers FMCG companies like Colgate Palmolive Nivea India Pvt Ltd Nestle Rasna Inbisco and Chipita have set up bases. The stretch of road between Sanand and Viramgam once lined with farms has now turned into a manufacturing hub with Indian and foreign car manufacturers component manufactuers power equipment manufacturers pharmaceutical companies and FMCG players all setting up big and small units. Recently the state government acquired over 1500 hectares from farmers to set up a second Japanese industrial park near Sanand. For all the latest Elections News download Indian Express App More Related News In Gujarat capital Rahul Gandhi fans upset about jobs education prices Gujarat Assembly elections: In final round today BJP defends narrower leads than in first Tags: Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017 Hardik Patel CHHAPI (GUJARAT): A winter afternoon in Chhapi has all the components that go into the making of an idyllic countryside. The gentle warmth of the sun a maze of alleys women running household errands men throwing furrowed looks at restless children and five young men staring blankly into the distance. The buzz of the assembly elections only a day away seems distant. The occasional goods train cuts through the somnolence only for the hush to descend again. A young man idly takes out a newspaper others peer into it. Modi is a low caste: Mani Shankar Aiyar screams the headline of the leading Gujarati language daily. See what this leader said. Ye theek nahi hai (this is not right) says Bhavesh Kumar carelessly folding the newspaper and throwing it on a heap of cartons. The other four men nod quite uncaring of the twist the paper has given to the Congress leader s statement by linking it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi s caste. Away from prime time news and its fulminating anchors news that Aiyar called Modi a neech aadmi (low life) has finally reached Chhapi which falls in Vadgam constituency of north Gujarat s Banaskantha district. The constituency votes tomorrow in the second and final phase of the assembly elections. The young men laugh on hearing that the comment occupied prime time slots across TV channels prompting the Congress to suspend the senior politician. Then an element of seriousness sets in the ennui giving way to searching questions and worries about the future. If only this much time was spent discussing the lack of jobs even for qualified people like us Bhawesh laments. Bhawesh a Dalit is the son of a government school teacher. He runs a mobile repairing shop in the Chhapi village market abutting the local railway station. The 29-year-old has completed MA (Master of Arts) as well as B.Ed. (Bachelor of Education). I had scored over 80 per cent in the Class 12 board exam. Subsequently I also completed the Primary Teachers Certificate (PTC) course. But then the government made TET (Teachers Eligibility Test) compulsory and my PTC course had no value anymore he says. TET was made mandatory for recruitment of teachers in many states after the enactment of the Right to Education Act. I have taken the test thrice but missed out for a few points. I don t like it here (running a shop) anymore Bhawesh says frustration writ large on his face. After paying a rent of Rs 1 500 and other establishment costs he is left with just Rs 8 000-9 000 every month. He says the growing popularity of 4G high-speed mobile services has robbed him off a major source of income as people don t flock to him anymore to get songs or movies downloaded. Kaushik Rawat Bhawesh s friend seconds him. Rawat s bloodshot eyes are a clear giveaway that he is inebriated not very surprising in a dry state with a flourishing black market. Rawats are classified as a Scheduled Caste community in Gujarat. Look at you you are 29 and single. But alcohol has turned you into a 40-year-old. Who will marry you now? Bhawesh and Sanjay Thakore playfully admonish their friend who works at one of the many diamond polishing units in Vadgam for a paltry pay. The much-touted Gujarat model of development seem to have skipped this part of Gujarat completely the youths say. In dry state Gujarat it s not alcohol but jobs that seem to have dried up quips Bhawesh. They are not first-time voters and elections do not excite them anymore. Asked about their voting choices the Dalits in the group say in a matter-of-fact tone that they choose Congress while Thakore says he supports the BJP knowing well that in this Dalit-Muslim dominated area its prospects are not that bright. The constituency is witnessing a fight between Congress- backed independent candidate Jignesh Mevani and BJP s Vijay Chakravarti. Congress Manibhai Vaghela won the last election but has withdrawn this time following the party s decision to back Mevani. The results for the December 9 and 14 election will be announced on December 18.