Jaipur:
Rajasthan saw an impressive 74.4 per cent voting - a new record - in the Assembly elections held today in 199 out of the 200 constituencies in the state, the Election Commission said.
The figure is a big jump from the previous best: 67.2% in 2003. In 2008, the voter turnout in the state was 66.5 per cent.
Polling in Churu constituency was postponed to December 13 following the death of the BSP candidate Jagdish Meghwal.
Two polling stations in Dausa and Alwar districts witnessed stray incidents of violence forcing the security forces to open fire.
Police fired in the air to disperse a group of persons trying to disturb polling at Saleempur in Dausa district, at Rein in Alwar and near Khumber-Deeg in Bharatpur, an official told PTI. No one was injured and the polling went on smoothly at these places, he said.
A pick-up van was set ablaze by some persons at Fatehpur in Sikar district, the official said.
Some miscreants tried to capture a booth in Rupwas area in Bharatpur district leading to a brief suspension of voting.
The Congress and the BJP are locked in a straight contest in Rajasthan elections that today sealed the fate of incumbent Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and state BJP chief Vasundhara Raje. In the outgoing Assembly, Congress holds 102 seats and the BJP 79.
Mr Gehlot, his wife, son and daughter-in-law cast votes at Vardhman Jain upper primary school in Mahamandir area in Jodhpur. The Chief Minister is trying his luck from his home turf Sardarpura in Jodhpur district.
The BJP's Ms Raje is contesting from Jhalarapatan constituency in Jhalawar district.
Counting of votes will take place on December 8.