Voters reserve their verdict in make-or-mar poll for Modi

Chief Minister Narendra Modi made a last minute pitch and sought votes for the BJP in a bid to keep him out of jail — as he alleged is the Congress ploy,post Supreme Court order to probe his role in the 2002 riots.

Summer vacations,marriages and searing heat did keep the voters at home,but the BJP is nevertheless hoping to better its tally of 14 seats,while the Congress hopes to retain the 12 seats it won in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls.

Missing names in Kutch-Saurashtra

THE region has eight seats,including that of Kutch now,which is a reserved Scheduled Caste seat. The voters helpline remained engaged throughout the day,with disappointed voters calling for help after they found their names missing from rolls or the respective booths. Rumours of an attack on MJP candidate Jagruti Shah dominated the poll day in Surendranagar constituency,where the turnout was the lowest.

The region puts to test not only the issue of jobless diamond workers,but also the Lok Sabha poll debut of Mahagujarat Janata Party,which has fielded the maximum candidates in this region,in a bid to disturb the BJP applecart. But at the same time,this is the only region where the Muslim dominated area of Wankaner could vote for the BJP on polling day.

Patels hold the key in North Gujarat

Seven Lok Sabha constituencies,including the prestigious seat of Gandhinagar and the hometown of Chief Minister Narendra Modi,Mehsana,will witness the Patel influence on the victory margins here.

The Congress adversary of Advani,including those on seats like Mehsana,Patan and both Ahmedabad seats are expected to witness the Patels’ rethink on the support to the BJP this time. Barring Patan and Banaskantha,the remaining constituencies,including Gandhinagar,witnessed an increase in voter turnout as compared to the previous Lok Sabha polls.

Tug-of-war in Central Gujarat

This is a traditional Congress bastion comprising six constituencies,which has elected three Congress ministers to the UPA last time,including one tribal. The region was dominated by the BJP in the 2002 Assembly polls. But scarred by the communal riots,it was wrested by the Congress in 2007. The party now hopes to better its performance this time.

The average voter turnout at Chhota Udepur and Bharuch constituency remained at 50 per cent,said district authorities.

Bharuch District Collector Arti Kanwar said: “There were problems with seven Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the morning,and they were soon replaced.”

Similarly,two EVMs were replaced at Bodeli H H Shirolawala School and also at Tilakwada primary school.

Higher turnout in South Gujarat

The region is dominated by the tribals and the prosperity of Surat city that spills over in the newly carved out constituency of Navsari.

The region also witnessed a higher voter turn out as compared to the 2004 polls. The fate of Surat constituency remains keenly watched,after the BJP sidelined six time MP Kashiram Rana in favour of Darshana Jardosh.