A voter  turnout of 68  per cent was recorded in the first phase of Gujarat Assembly Elections. Polling for 89 assembly constituencies of the State was held today. The first phase covered Saurashtra, Kutch and South Gujarat.

Briefing reporters in New Delhi this evening, Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha said, the voter turnout is encouraging, and the final polling percentage may go up as final figures are yet to be tallied.

''Polling percentage in respect of the first phase of election in all districts that is 68 percent last time it was 71.7 percent in 2012. Hopefully by the time we get the final figure, it may touch previous election figure.''

Umesh Sinha said, divyangjans and elderly people exercised their franchise in large numbers in the polls including a 126 year old woman.

He said, VVPAT machines  were used in EVMs  at all polling stations. He said, this time in the elections many new IT initiatives were taken including SUGAM, SAMADHAN, SUVIDHA.

Later, giving details on EVMs and VVPATs, Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain said, 181 ballot units, 223 control units and 714 VVPATs were replaced during the poll process. He rejected the reports that an EVM was connected to mobile bluetooth. He said, EVMs do not have receptors or wiring to facilitate that.

Media reports meanwhile, that campaigning for second phase has picked up pace. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addressed a number of rallies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held public meetings at Mehsana, Lunawada, Bodeli, and Anand today. He spoke about good governance efforts of NDA government and BJP government in Gujarat. He highlighted how Mudra Yojana has turned youth into entrepreneurs and job creators.

On the other hand, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandh, in his election rally, stated that BJP has not touched the topic of development in its poll campaign. He also attacked the Gujarat model of development, targeting the land allocation for the Tata Nano factory in Sanand. Polling for second phase in 93 constituencies  will be held on the 14th of this month.

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