November 25th 2023.
The stage is set for a battle royale in Rajasthan as the state witnessed brisk voting on Saturday with more than 40 per cent of the electorate casting their votes by 1 pm to elect a new government. Polling began at more than 51,000 polling booths at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm. Officials said voting was by and large peaceful across the state.
In the first two hours of voting, nearly 10 per cent of the electorate cast their votes and the figure went up to nearly 25 per cent by 11 am and to 40.27 per cent by 1 pm, an official said. More than 5.25 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,862 candidates in 199 seats, out of a total of 200 in the state. Polling in one constituency has been postponed due to the death of a candidate.
The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements to ensure a smooth polling. More than 1.70 lakh security personnel have been deployed across the state. The election in the desert state is a direct contest between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP. The Congress is aiming to buck the trend of the ruling party being voted out every five years, while BJP is eyeing a return in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year.
Since morning, people showed enthusiasm and came out to vote in large numbers. Many voters, youngsters as well as the elderly, queued up at polling centres well before 7 am. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Kailash Chaudhary, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot were among the first ones to cast their votes. Gehlot and Shekhawat cast their votes in Jodhpur, Chaudhary in Balotra, Raje in Jhalawar and Pilot in Jaipur.
In their interactions with the media on the polling day, the leaders expressed confidence that their respective parties will get the mandate of the people. There is no anti-incumbency against the Congress and the party will form the government in the state again, Chief Minister Gehlot said in Jodhpur. Gehlot's predecessor Raje agreed with him but said it would benefit her BJP. Union minister Shekhawat said, "BJP is coming to power with a huge majority. This time people will vote keeping in mind crimes committed against women, paper leak incidents and corruption during the five-year rule of the Congress."
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several leaders appeal to the people of Rajasthan to vote in large numbers. In Pali district, a polling agent of a candidate died due to suspected cardiac arrest. Rajasthan has a total of 200 assembly seats but polling is being held on 199 seats as election in Karanpur in Sriganganagar district has been postponed following the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.
Several leaders of the BJP and the Congress have rebelled against their parties after being denied tickets. Key BJP rebels include former assembly speaker Kailash Meghwal, Chandrabhan Akya from Chittorgarh and former transport minister Yoonus Khan from Deedwana. In the Congress, main rebel candidates include Joharilal Meena from Rajgarh-Laxmangarh, Gopal Baheti in Pushkar, Habiburrahman from Nagaur, Virendra Beniwal in Lunkaransar, Khiladi Lal Bairwa in Baseri, and Dr. Param Navdeep Singh in Sangaria.
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and the Aam Aadmi Party are also contesting the assembly polls in the state. The results of the polls will be declared on December 3. The battle of the ballot in Rajasthan will be a showdown between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. It remains to be seen who will emerge triumphant in this battle royale.
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