Voter turnout in Guj gives rise to pro-incumbency factor: Modi

Ahmedabad, Dec 17: Buoyed by the impressive voter turnout in the second and final phase as well of the Assembly elections, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the impressive percentage will force political experts to consider "pro-incumbency" factor in their discussions.

"This is the record polling after the formation of the state. We have a popular term in anti-incumbency but after this state elections, political pundits will have to adept and discuss the term pro-incumbency," Modi said here on Monday night.

"People of the country want good-governance, development and sincerity, and people of Gujarat have voted for it," Modi said expressing confidence of his victory in the polls, counting for which will be held on Dec 20. Modi was speaking after the 70 per cent voting was recorded in the ultimate phase of Gujarat elections.

A record 70.75 per cent of the eligible voters cast their ballots in the first of the two-phase elections last Thursday with the average polling being a little over 70 per cent. The highest polling recorded in the previous Assembly elections was 63.70 per cent in 1967.

PTI