45 pc come out to cast votes in six byelections

The four Assembly constituencies which went to polls Sunday include Morva Hadaf in the Panchmahals district,Limbdi in Surendranagar district,Jetpur and Dhoraji in Rajkot district.

Due to the heat conditions in the state,the Election Commission had extended the voting time by two hours. The voting began from 7 am and it concluded at 6 pm instead of the usual voting between 8 am and 5 pm. However,this did not seem to have worked as except for Morva Hadaf and Limbdi constituencies,rest of the seats witnessed very low voter turn out.

As per the approximate figures provided by the Election Commission officials,Porbandar recorded the lowest voting at 30 per cent followed by Dhoraji with 34 per cent,Banaskantha 38 per cent and Jetpur 45 per cent. Morva Hadaf recorded highest voting at around 64 per cent followed by Limbdi where around 62 per cent voters cast their votes.

On Banaskantha parliament seat,Congress has fielded Krishna Gadhvi — widow of Mukesh Gadhvi. whereas,she is being challenged by BJP’s Haribhai Chaudhary.

On Porbandar seat,Radadiya is contesting on BJP ticket. Congress has fielded Vinubhai Amipara.

On Jetpur Assembly constituency,Jayesh Radadiya — who joined BJP along with his father — is facing challenge from Congress’s Jagdish Pambhar.

For Dhoraji Assembly seat BJP fielded Pravin Mankadia to face Haribhai Patel (Kansagara) of Congress while for Limbdi constituency former BJP minister Kiritsinh Rana is facing Congress’s Satish Patel,son of Congress MP from Surendranagar — Soma Patel. In Morva Hadaf,Nimisha Suthar is BJP candidate against Bhupendra Khant of Congress. The seat was vacated after Congress MLA and Khant’s mother,Savita,died soon after she was elected.