Gujarat polls to decide fate of Modi

NEW DELHI—First phase of crucial elections in Indian state of Gujarat to decide the fate of controversial Chief Minister Narendra Modi was completed on Tuesday. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi headed the campaign while leaders of the congress party including Sonia Gandhi campaigned in Gujarat describing Modi as “merchant of death”.
Today’s elections were held for 87 seats in the 182-member house with around 1,78,77,771 voters (93,14,640 males and 85,63,131 females). In all 669 candidates including 53 women are in the field. The polling for the remaining seats will be held on December 16 while the counting will take place on December 23. Several candidates who rebelled against Narendra Modi this time are also in the field.
Narendra Modi is held responsible by Muslims and non- Muslim leaders including leaders of Congress party for murdering Muslims in post -Godhra incident in Gujarat state. In several fake encounters, Muslims were killed by the state police during the massacre of Muslims in the state.—Agencies