About 69% polling was recorded across 95 constituencies in Gujarat in final phase of voting opn Monday, which will decide the fate of 820 candidates including chief minister Narendra Modi.

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi exercised his franchise at a

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi gestures as he greets his supporters after casting his vote in the second phase of Gujarat state assembly elections in Ahmadabad. AP Photo/Ajit Solanki

school in Ahmedabad during the second phase of the state assembly elections, which saw about 6.7 per cent polling across 95 constituencies in the first hour.

Veteran BJP leader L K Advani exercised his franchise at a polling booth in Shahpur area here. Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitely and Modi had cast their vote.

About 55% average polling was recorded across 95 constituencies in Gujarat till 3 pm.

"Around 37-38% polling has been recorded in the first five hours of polling till 1pm, which is exactly the same as in phase-I till this time," a state Election Commission official said.

"It could be once again a record voter turnout in Gujarat as the trends so far indicate," he said.

A record 70.75% polling was recorded in phase-I of polls.

Modi, who is contesting from Maninagar Assembly constituency, is locked in a direct contest with Congress candidate Shweta Bhatt, wife of suspended IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt.

Seeking a third term in office, Modi exercised his franchise at Nishan High School in Ranip area of the city.

Confident of returning to power, Modi today said, "I thank all the voters. In this election, people of Gujarat will make a hat-trick by giving a third term to us."

Soon after casting his vote, he told reporters, "It's a very peaceful election. It is such a election that has been contested by people of Gujarat themselves...an election where youth and women folk have taken up the responsibility on their shoulders..It will be historic one because it has been contested on the issue of good governance and development plank."

Long queues were seen since morning across 23,318 polling stations, with men, women and youths coming out in large numbers.

"Around 20-21% 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.

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.

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 on Monday.

The constituencies where polling started include 17 in Ahmedabad city, 40 constituencies in five districts-Vadodara, Dahod, Panchmahal, Kheda and Anand-of Central Gujarat, on 32 seats in five districts -Patan, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Gandhinagar and Banaskantha-of North Gujarat, and on six seats in Kutch District.

Voting is underway on 23,318 polling stations amidst elaborate and robust security arrangements. In Ahmedabad 1,700 polling booths have been marked as critical by the Election Commission.

Around 1.98 crore voters will seal the fate of 820 candidates, contesting in this phase. Out of total 1,98,99,501 voters, there are 1,03,58,265 males, 95,41,157 females and 79 other voters who are likely to exercise their franchise.

Out of a total of 820 in this phase, 49 women candidates in the fray. BJP has fielded candidates on all 95 seats going to poll in this phase, whereas Congress is contesting on 92 and Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) and Bahujan Samaaj Party (BSP) on 84 seats each, besides 284 independents in fray