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Ahmedabad: It does seem as though the two recent incidents of the river Narmada waters reaching the remotest regions of Kutch district in August earlier this year and the recent October 30 tragedy, that of the collapse of the cable-suspension bridge that left 135 dead in Morbi district appear to have left an impact on the first phase of polling on December 1.
The highest approximate polling percentage of 82.71% was recorded in Dediapada assembly constituency in Narmada district. Whereas the lowest voting percentage of 47.86% was recorded in Gandhidham assembly constituency in Kutch district. What is significant to note here is that, barring Gandhidham assembly constituency, the rest of 88 assembly constituencies all have recorded a minimum of 50% or more polling percentage.
In the first phase of polling on December 1, two districts of Narmada and Tapi have recorded the highest polling percentages of 78.42% and 77.04% respectively from among the 19 districts that went to polls. In August earlier this year the waters of the river Narmada had finally reached the remotest regions of Kutch which until then had remained parched. The river Narmada traverses through the twin districts of Narmada and Tapi in Gujarat. The river waters reaching the parched lands appear to have made a huge impact on the assembly polling there.
However, in Kutch district itself the approximate polling percentage recorded was just 55.54%, with Gandhidham assembly constituency in the district recording one of the lowest voting percentages of about 47.86%. Out of the 6 assembly constituencies in Kutch district – Abdasa, Bhuj and Rapar share international borders with neighbouring Pakistan.
The approximate voting percentage in the 6 assembly constituencies of Kutch is as follows – Abdasa 63.87%, Anjar 64.34%, Bhuj 61.65%, Gandhidham 47.86%, Mandvi 65.37% and Rapar 58.27%.
It may be recalled that Bhuj was shaken by the destructive earthquake that struck on January 26, 2001.
The overall approximate polling percentage in Narmada district was 78.42%. Whereas, the two assembly constituencies in the district of Dediapada and Nandod recorded polling percentage of 82.71% and 74.36% respectively.
In the 2017 assembly elections the two Schedule Tribe (ST) seats of Dediapada and Nandod were represented by – Premsinbhai Vasava (Congress) and Maheshbhai Vasava (BTP)
The Narmada district is also now most famously known for the world’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel that is located on Sadhu-bet in the river Narmada facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
The nearby Tapi district recorded an overall percentage of 74.04%. Here the two assembly constituencies of Nizar and Vyara recorded 78.19% and 75.57% polling percentage respectively.
In the 2017 assembly elections the two Schedule Tribe (ST) seats of Nizar and Vyara both were held by Congress MLAs – Punabhai Gamit and Sunil Gamit respectively.
Morbi district, which on October 30 had witnessed the horrific collapse of the cable-suspension bridge that left 135 dead, had recorded an overall polling percentage of 69.95%. The three assembly constituencies of – Morbi 67.19%, Tankara 71.18% and Wankaner 71.70%. It does suggest that the bridge collapse on October 30 did have an impact on the psyche of the voters.
Out of the 182 assembly constituencies of Gujarat, 89 constituencies went to polls on December 1 and the remaining 93 assembly constituencies will go to polls on December 5. Counting of votes and results will be declared on December 8 along with those of Himachal Pradesh.
The district-wise approximate overall polling percentage in all the 19 districts was 63.31%. is as follows – Amreli 57.60%, Bharuch 67.19%, Bhavnagar 60.83%, Botad 57.59%, Dangs 67.33%, Devbhumi Dwarka 61.71%, Gir Somnath 65.94%, Jamnagar 60.01%, Junagadh 59.54%, Kutch 59.85%, Morbi 69.95%, Narmada 78.42%, Navsari 71.06%, Porbandar 59.50%, Rajkot 60.63%, Surat 62.23%, Surendranagar 62.84%, Tapi 77/04% and Valsad 69.40%.
Prominent assembly constituencies to have recorded significantly higher polling percentage include – Rajula 64.91%, Jhagadia 76.20%, Dangs 67.33%, Dwarka 61.06%, Somnath 72.94%, Jamjodhpur 65.43%, Mangrol 63.59%, Mandvi 65.37%, Tankara 71.18%, Wankaner 71.70%, Dediapada 82.71%, Nandod 74.36%, Bansda 78.23%, Gandevi 71.49%, Porbandar 61.98%, Jetpur 63.28%, Mahuva 73.73%, Mandvi 76.22%, Mangrol 74.09%, Dhrangadhra 67.48%, Nizar 78.19%, Vyara 75.57%, Dharampur 78.32% and Kaprada 79.57%.
