The first phase of the Gujarat elections for 89 Assembly seats ended at 5 p.m. on Thursday. The first round of voting, which included 788 candidates, was held across 19 districts in the Saurashtra-Kutch and southern regions. The final voting figures for phase 1 were 59.2 percent, according to the Election Commission. With the exception of a few instances of EVM malfunction, the first phase of the Gujarat 2022 elections was largely peaceful. Polling began slowly, with only 4.92 percent of the electorate voting until 9 a.m., but gradually increased to 19.13 percent by 11 a.m., according to EC data.
Elections to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly are being held in two stages, with vote counting beginning on December 8. On December 5, the state goes to the polls for the second phase of Gujarat elections. While the first round of elections was taking place, political parties began campaigning for the second round. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at several rallies in Gujarat today, and Aam Aadmi Party leaders such as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann held a roadshow in Ahmedabad.