Jaipur: Voters came out in large numbers as polling began today morning in 199 out of the 200 constituencies in the Rajasthan Assembly elections. Brisk polling was witnessed right from the beginning of voting at 7 am across the State. Votes started arriving early and formed queues at the polling stations since morning. The fate of 1,863 candidates contesting the elections will be decided. More than 5.26 crore voters of the state will exercise their franchise.
- 7.30 pm
As polling was held for the Rajasthan assembly elections on Saturday, the to-be bride kept her date with democracy as she came out to exercise her franchise in the Jhalawar district of the state. Rukhsar, whose wedding is scheduled on Saturday arrived to cast her vote at the Women's Voting Center located in Housing Board Colony to take part in the grand festival of democracy. - 7.00 pm
Two elderly voters, who had gone to cast their votes died. The first death was reported from Udaipur, while the second death was reported from Jhalawad where one 78-year-old Kanhaiyalal died when he was standing in the queue. Sexagenarian Satyendra Kumar Arora, from Rajasthan's Udaipur, had died when his health deteriorated. - 6.30 pm
Congress leader Sachin Pilot expressed hope that the grand old party would form the government in the desert state. "People have taken the decision and sealed the future of Rajasthan in the boxes (EVMs). I am hopeful that Congress will get a majority on December 3, when the counting will be done. I even want to thank our opposition for putting forward their views. The elections have concluded very well. Everyone will wait for December 3 now and I hope Congress will form its government in Rajasthan. If we cross the majority mark, Congress MLAs and the high command will decide on what role will be given to whom," said Sachin Pilot, son of late Rajesh Pilot, after voting was held for the 199 seats of the Rajasthan Assembly. - 6.00 pm
An NRI couple, who cast their votes in Jaipur, gave priority to the festival of democracy over Diwali while a newlywed bride postponed her 'vidai' by a day so as to exercise her franchise. - 5.45 pm
The approximate voter trend for the Rajasthan Assembly Elections stood at 68.24 per cent at 5 pm, as per the data shared by the Election Commission. The turnout stood at 55.63 per cent till 3 pm. First two hours recorded nearly 10 per cent of polling, which began at 7 am. The turnout rose to nearly 25 per cent by 11 am and crossed 40 per cent by 1 pm. - 4.45 pm
Coalitions are a thing of past-Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla who exercised his franchise at Springdales School in Kota said the time for coalitions is a thing of the past. Like other voters, Birla stood in the queue and cast his vote. Speaking to ETV Bharat after voting, the Lok Sabha Speaker said, "Yes. I'm the Lok Sabha Speaker. I've come here to fulfil my democratic duty. That is why I stood in the queue like every other citizen and exercised my franchise." "The time for coalition governments is a thing of the past. Now is the time to provide a majority to a single party, as it brings stability." As for the voting percentage, the Lok Sabha top boss said the voting percentage should go up. His view is that it has a direct bearing on people's faith in democracy. "More voting means more strength to India's democracy.'' He appealed to the young voters to vote as much as possible. He was seen interacting with the youth and later he left for his home on foot. - 4.04 pm
Vasundhara Raje casts her vote within auspicious timing. According to the 'Panchang', the auspicious time was 8.15 am to 9.30 am. Vasundhara Raje reached her polling booth on time. She cast her vote with her grandson at around 9 am. Before she came to vote, she reached Balaji temple complex, from her Prithvi Vilas Palace. She worshipped the deity and sought blessings for a BJP victory. She then proceeded to the residence of former Rajasthan Public Service Commission chief Shyam Sundar Sharma, where she was apprised of the polling tempo. Thereafter, she reached polling station 32 located in Housing Board Colony. - 3.30 pm
Over 55.63 per cent of voting was recorded till 3 pm as per the Election Commission of India. Nearly 10 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of voting, which began at 7 am. It further went up to nearly 25 per cent by 11 am and further breached 40 per cent by 1 pm. - 3.00 pm
Voting was going at a brisk place in the desert state where the Congress is eyeing to retain power while the BJP is aiming to wrest power from the grand-old party.
- 2.35 pm
The auspicious timing for the day was 8.15 am to 9.30 am, according to the Panchang. During this time, Vasundhara Raje reached her booth. She cast her vote with her grandson at around 9 am. Before she came to vote, she reached the Balaji temple complex, from her Prithvi Vilas Palace. She worshipped the deity and sought blessings for a BJP victory. She then proceeded to the residence of former Rajasthan Public Service Commission chief Shyam Sundar Sharma, where she was apprised of the polling tempo. Thereafter, she reached polling station 32 located in Housing Board Colony. - 2 pm
Rajasthan's brisk polling recorded more than 40 per cent turnout by 1 pm to elect a new government. Voting began at more than 51,000 polling booths at 7 am and is set to conclude at 6 pm. In the first two hours of voting, nearly 10 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise and the figure ballooned to nearly 25 per cent by 11 am and to 40.27 per cent by 1 pm. - 12.15 pm
Over 1.70 lakh security personnel have been deployed by the Election Commission across the desert state, to ensure smooth polling. The deployment includes 70,000 Rajasthan Police personnel, 18,000 Rajasthan Home Guards, 2,000 Rajasthan Border Home Guards, 15,000 Home Guards of other states (Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh), and 120 RAC Companies. - 11.30 am
According to the provisional data, nearly 25 per cent of the voters had cast their votes in the first four hours since the polling in 199 assembly constituencies in the state began at 7 am. A poll official said the voting percentage till 11 am was 24.74. The highest turnout out of 38.56 per cent was recorded in the Kaman assembly constituency, followed by Tijara at 34.08 per cent. - 10.55 am
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said savings, relief, growth and dreams flying high, people benefiting from welfare schemes will choose only Rajasthan. People are aware of their valuable vote and that it is the guarantee of their happiness, he added. "Make sure that there are no obstacles in your improving life. It is an appeal to young friends and first-time voters to cast their vote. Choose social security, choose economic empowerment, choose only the guarantee of prosperity and development," Kharge said. - 10.25 am
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi urged the voters to elect a Congress government of guarantees and one that is beneficial to the people of Rajasthan. "Rajasthan will choose free treatment. Rajasthan will choose cheaper gas cylinders. Rajasthan will choose an interest-free agricultural loan. Rajasthan will choose English education. Rajasthan will choose OPS. Rajasthan will choose caste census," Rahul said in a post in X. - 10 am
Congress will pay for sins from past- BJP MP and candidate from Jhotwara Assembly constituency, Rajyavardhan Rathore cast his vote at a polling booth in Jaipur. Speaking to ETV Bharat, he claimed that BJP was forming the government with a thumping majority. Voters have made up their minds. He asserted that his party works not for self but for the people of the state. On the Gehlot-led Congress government, he claimed that Congress was self-serving. BJP works for the people and the BJP government will continue to do so. The basic needs are of paramount importance to the state. Crime, corruption and unemployment are plaguing the state, which has a bearing on the voters of Rajasthan. The electorate will factor the 'sins that the Congress government' in the last five years while casting their votes. - 9.30 am
Amid brisk polling in most of the districts, the state average of polling at 9 am stood at 9.77 per cent. The Kotputli assembly constituency polled 12.04 per cent till 9 am, the highest among the 19 constituencies in Jaipur district. This was followed by Shahpura which saw a voter turnout of 11.78 per cent, Jhotwara 11.28 per cent, Chaksu 11.07 per cent and Virat Nagar 11.04 per cent. The lowest turnout was witnessed in Bagru with 7.86 per cent. - 8.45 am
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sad since he could not topple the government in Rajasthan. He was responding to ANI on a question about whether it is a Gehlot vs PM Modi fight in the Rajasthan election. "There used to be a time when a PM used to hold 2-3 meetings in a state and the message used to reach villages but now, the PM has to hold 30 meetings. He attacked me during his speeches because he is sad about the fact that they (BJP) could not topple the govt in Rajasthan. If they come to power, the welfare schemes will be stopped. We want to strengthen our existing schemes and want to fulfil the guarantees that are given this time. Our agenda is clear for 2030," the Congress leader said. - 8 am
Former CM and BJP candidate from Jhalrapatan assembly constituency, Vasundhara Raje cast her vote at a Jhalawar polling booth. She appealed to the voters to exercise their franchise. "I request everyone, especially the first-time voters, to cast their vote," she told the media. - 7.40 am
Congress leader Sachin Pilot, who is contesting from the Tonk assembly seat, cast his vote in Jaipur’s Civil Lines area booth. "I hope people will use their right to vote today. I hope the public will make the right decision by looking at our vision for the state for the next 5 years. I think Congress will form the government again with a comfortable majority. People want to change the tradition (to change government alternatively). Public's sentiment is with the Congress." Earlier, Pilot offered prayer at Balaji temple before he cast his vote. "Who is a bigger warrior than 'Bajrang Bali'? Bajrang Bali will help the people," he asked. - 7.20 am
Mock polling was delayed at a polling booth in Hanumangarh district due to an EVM malfunction. The mock poll which was supposed to have happened at 6 am, got delayed by 20 minutes. According to a district election official, the EVM unit was fixed and the mock poll was conducted in the presence of polling agents. - 7 am
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the Rajasthan voters to create a new record of voting by exercising their franchise in maximum numbers. In a post in Hindi on X, he said: "Voting will be held today for Rajasthan Assembly elections. I request all the voters to create a new record of voting by exercising their franchise in maximum numbers. On this occasion, my best wishes to all the young friends of the state who are going to vote for the first time."
Attack on Congress candidate-On Friday night, Revenue Minister Ramlal Jat, who is fighting for his return as Congress candidate from Mandal assembly constituency of Bhilwara district, was attacked by some miscreants when he was going for the campaign in Hira Ka Badia village of Karera police station area. Miscreants pelted stones at his car. The windshield of the Revenue Minister's car was broken and his gunman suffered minor injuries. By the time police reached the spot, the attackers had fled. Police registered a case. Udaylal Bhadana is in the fray from the BJP's side from the Mandal segment.
Electorate & polling stations- There are 1 crore 70 lakh 99 thousand 334 youth voters in the age group of 18 to 30 in the state. Of them, 22 lakh 61 thousand 8 are new voters in the age group of 18 to 19. Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said that polling stations have been set up at 51,507 places. In this, 10,501 polling stations have been set up in urban areas and 41,006 polling stations in rural areas.
About 3,383 special polling stations have been created in the entire state. One handicapped polling booth, and eight women and youth polling booths each have been made in every assembly constituency. The responsibility of polling at disabled polling stations will be in the hands of disabled personnel. Similarly, only women personnel will be responsible for voting in the women's polling station. Youth personnel will be deployed in the youth polling station.
Surveillance- He informed that live webcasting will be done at 26,393 polling stations. These polling centres will be monitored from the district-level control room. Across the state, 65,277 ballot units, 62,372 control units and 67,580 VVPAT machines including reserves will be used for voting. There are 6,287 micro observers and 6247 sector officers who will ensure free, fair and peaceful assembly elections. They will immediately resolve any kind of problem by continuously coordinating with various wings involved in the polling process.
Election postponed- There are 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan, but this time Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Kunnar, who was fielded by the party from the Karanpur seat of Sriganganagar district, died. So, the election to this seat is postponed.
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