Gujarat records 59.61 pc polling in first phase of elections

Ahmedabad, Dec 12 (UNI) As many as 10.6 million of the 17.8 million voters exercised their franchise in the first phase of the Gujarat assembly elections yesterday, registering an average polling percentage of 59.61.

Polling was held in 14 districts of the state, covering 87 assembly constituencies of Kutch, Saurashtra and South Gujarat.

Narmada district recorded the highest polling percentage at 69.62, while Jamnagar recorded the lowest at 55.73 per cent, an Election Commission release said today.

Among the other districts, Kutch recorded 58.48 per cent polling, Surendranagar (59.84), Rajkot (58.03), Junagadh (62.07), Amreli (59.39), Bhavnagar (57.77), Bharuch (64.34), Surat (58.54), Valsad (61.84), Dangs (58.87), Porbandar (56.96), and Navsari recorded 64.65 per cent polling.

Around 57.18 per cent women voters exercised their franchise in yesterday's polling, the release added.

UNI