Bitter Gujarat battle ends amid varying victory claims (Roundup)

Dec 16, 2007, 14:11 GMT

Ahmedabad, Dec 16 (IANS) An acrimonious battle for Gujarat ended Sunday with 11.5 million voting in 95 seats in central and northern parts in a straight fight between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress whose outcome could impact national politics.

Over 62 percent of the estimated 18.7 million voters cast their ballots peacefully in the second round, the urban centres recording maximum turnout in precisely those areas that saw the worst communal violence in 2002, leading to the BJP's sweep then.

A confident Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who emerged as the tallest figure in this two-phase election, claimed he would get 'an unprecedented' majority in the 182-member Gujarat legislature. Congress leaders dismissed the claim.

'A total of 62 to 64 percent have voted (today),' Additional Chief Electoral Officer Ashok Manek told reporters here at the end of the 10-hour balloting that was supervised by thousands of police and paramilitary personnel.

A total of 599 candidates were in the fray Sunday. Some 60 percent of 17.8 million had voted in the first round Dec 11. The results of the contest will be known Dec 23.

Although a previously untested force, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) fielded candidates in 88 constituencies in the second round in contrast to 95 of BJP and 92 of Congress.

After casting his vote at Ranip in Sarkhej constituency here, a smiling Modi flashed a V sign and asserted as thousands wildly cheered him: 'The BJP will get an unprecedented number of seats in the next assembly.'

Modi's political foe and Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela made a contrasting claim at Vasan: 'I am sure the Congress will get a majority. The people want a change.'

State Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki agreed: 'There is a wave for change and this time the situation will be a reverse of what it was in 2002.'

Shortly before Modi spoke, Advani voted in Shahpur constituency of Ahmedabad amid chaos after an electronic voting machine (EVM) at the polling booth failed to function.

Advani said: 'The BJP is going to win in both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. And the results are going to decide the timing of the mid-term (parliamentary) elections.'

The polling started mostly on a moderate note with people coming out of their homes in small numbers on a windy Sunday though some polling stations saw a good turnout even at 8 a.m.

But as the day progressed, voting picked up dramatically. More people voted in urban areas that were once considered Congress bastions but which leaned towards the BJP five years ago following a visible communal divide.

The second phase of the elections saw a high-pitched campaign from both sides on issues related to terrorism and security while local issues took a back seat.

Modi and Congress president Sonia Gandhi turned out to be the key campaigners for their respective sides although Advani and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too addressed campaign meetings.

The heavyweights in Sunday's contest included Modi and cabinet ministers Anandiben Patel, Ashok Bhatt, Kaushik Patel, Anil Patel, Bharat Barot and Dilip Thakore.

Congress veterans in the fray included central minister Dinsha Patel, Narhari Amin and C.J. Chavda.

Sunday began with a major embarrassment for the BJP when one of its candidates was arrested within an hour.

Jayanti Rathwa, candidate from Pavi Jetpur constituency of central Gujarat, was taken into custody after police found weapons in three vehicles driven by his supporters.

Also, the Election Commission has charged Gujarat Education Minister Anandiben Patel with violation of poll conduct after she allegedly distributed saris among voters in her Patan constituency in the northern region.

The EVMs did not function well in more than one place. In some seats, voters complained that their names were not in the Election Commission list though they possessed voter identity cards.

In 2002, the BJP bagged 127 of the 182 seats, thanks largely to its sweep of central and north Gujarat in the aftermath of communal violence. The Congress is making a determined bid to regain these areas.

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service