In the first phase of assembly polls in Gujarat, 59.61 per cent exercised their franchise in 14 districts to select candidates to 87 seats, official sources said on Wednesday.

Out of the 1.78 crore voters in the 87 constituencies, 1.06 crore exercised their right to vote on Tuesday of which 57.19 per cent were women and 61.84 per cent male, sources at Gujarat's Chief Electoral Office said.

Narmada district in South Gujarat recorded the highest voting percentage of 69.63 while Saurashtra region's Jamnagar district recorded the lowest at 55.73 per cent.

Kutch had recorded 58.48 per cent voting. The polling percentages in other districts in Saurashtra region were Surendranagar (59.84), Rajkot (58), Junagadh (62.07), Amreli (59.39), Porbandar (56.96) and Bhavnagar (57.77).

The polling percentage in other districts in south Gujarat were Bharuch (64.36), Surat (58.54), Valsad (61.84), Dangs (58.87) and Navsari (64.65).

Voting in the first phase had passed off peacefully barring minor incidents of violence and complaints of irregularities.

The second phase of elections in 97 constituencies will take place on December 16. The counting of votes will be done on December 23.