Gujarat: 21 pc polling in first 3 hours

An average 21 per cent voting was recorded in the first three hours across 95 seats in Gujarat where polling is underway for the second phase of elections which will decide the fate of 820 candidates including Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
  
"Around 20-21 per cent voting has been recorded across 95 Assembly constituencies till 11 AM, where brisk polling is underway in second phase," a state Election Commission official said.
  
Modi, who is seeking a third term in office, exercised his franchise at Nishan High School in Ranip area of the city.
    
Confident of returning to power, Modi said, "I thank all the voters. In this election, people of Gujarat will make a hat-trick by giving a third term to us. People of the state will once again vote BJP to power...the sentiments of people here is giving you an clear indication of that".
  
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitely casted his vote at Chimanbhai Patel Institute opposite Karnavati club.
  
Jagruti Pandya, the wife of slain former MoS of Home Haren Pandya casted her vote at New Sharda Mandir school in Paldi.
  
Shweta Bhatt, the Congress candidate contesting against the Chief Minister, exercised her franchise in Memnagar Panchayat Balmandir.
  
Serpentine queues were seen since morning at 23,318 polling stations, with women and youths coming out in large numbers.
  
From Congress, former Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela, his son Mahendra Vaghela, former state Congress president Siddharth Patel, are amongst prominent candidates contesting in phase-II.
  
From BJP, states spokesperson and health minister Jaynarayan Vyas, MoS for industry Saurabh Patel and revenue minister Anandi Patel, Praful Patel, controversial former MoS of Home Amit Shah, are among the prominent candidates contesting in phase-II.
  
Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) has fielded Jagruti Pandya, wife of slain BJP former MoS of Home Haren Pandya, from the Ellisbridge seat in Ahmedabad, where polling is taking place Monday.