Polling begins in Rajasthan

Jaipur, Dec 1: Polling began on Sunday in 199 Assembly seats in Rajasthan to decide the fate of 2,087 candidates including Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and BJP’s Chief Ministerial nominee Vasundhara Raje.

Over 4.08 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 47,223 polling booths. Polling will take place between 0800 hours and 1700 hours.

Of the 200 Assembly seats, polling has been adjourned in Churu constituency, where nine people were in the fray, to December 13, following the death of BSP candidate Jagdish Meghwal.

There are 166 women and one eunuch candidate contesting the polls.

Mr. Gehlot, Ms. Raje and BJP leader Gulab Chand Kataria cast their votes in their respective constituencies.

At many polling booths in Sanager and Malviya Nagar Assembly seats of Jaipur, voters were seen approaching poll booths while on their morning walk.

Congress and BJP have fielded 200 candidates each, BSP 195, CPI(M) 38, CPI 23, NCP 16, other parties 666 and Independents 758 (including Churu constituency).

Police control room said, “Voting began peacefully and there is no report of any untoward incident.”

Of the 4.08 crore-strong electorate, 1.92 crore are women. The results will be declared on December 8.

Mr. Gehlot is contesting from his home turf of Sardarpura seat in Jodhpur district against BJP’s Rajput candidate Shambhu Singh Khetasar while Congress’ woman NSUI leader and former MLA Meenakshi Chandrawat is fighting against Ms. Raje from the Jhalarapatan seat in Jhalawar district.

Mr. Gehlot along with his wife Sunita, son Vaibhav and daughter-in-law imanshi cast their votes at Vardhman Jain upper primary school in Mahamandir area of Jodhpur.

He, while expressing confidence of retaining power for second consecutive term, rejected any impact of BJP Prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on the elections.

“There is a wave in favour of Congress. Ours campaigning was a positive one and we did not touch a low like BJP leaders. We gave positive message to the people and they will vote for development and works done by our government,” he told reporters.

Asked who will become the next chief minister if the party is voted to power, he said it would be decided by the party high command.

2 booth capturing bids foiled

Two alleged booth capturing bids were foiled in Rajasthan’s Bhratpur district during the State Assembly elections on Sunday.

“Several people tried to storm into a polling station for suspected booth capturing in Dhabak area in Nagar constituency but were pushed outside,” Bharatpur District Collector Neeraj K. Pawan told PTI.

“Sector magistrate informed me that he was threatened by a MLA and her supporters. Additional force was rushed to the area immediately and the situation is under control,” he said, adding, that the polling remained unaffected.

In Mawai area, some people also tried to capture a booth but the situation was soon brought under control, sources said.