A big crowd chanting "Modi, Modi" has gathered at the polling booth at the Nishan High School in the Ranip locality of Sabarmati, waiting to catch a glimpse of PM Modi when he arrives to vote. The Prime Minister is the face of the BJP's campaign in his home state in what is seen as a contest between him and Rahul Gandhi, who is set to be Congress president.     

North and central Gujarat are voting in 93 of the state's 182 constituencies today. This phase is vital for the BJP with many urban centres, which have traditionally backed the party. It hopes for a good voter turnout and PM Modi has urged the state to vote in large numbers.

The BJP's big challenge in this round is to retain Ahmedabad and Vadodara, Gujarat's two mega cities that had overwhelmingly backed the party in the last election. The BJP had won 26 of the 31 seats from these two districts alone. Overall, of the 93 constituencies voting today, the BJP had won 52 last time, and the Congress had won 39.

The BJP, which has been in power in Gujarat for the last 22 years, expects to make up in the tribal belt for any loss in other places because of an anti-incumbency sentiment. As the BJP's lead campaigner, PM Modi extensively focused on the tribal belts to complement the party's conscious effort to deepen its roots within the tribal community, including encouraging local leaders.