Rajasthan Assembly Election News: The elections were contested by 1,862 candidates
Polling for 199 out of Rajasthan's 200 seats was held today and saw over 69 per cent voter turnout. Voting at more than 51,000 polling booths in 199 assembly constituencies started at 7 am and concluded around 6 pm.
The elections were contested by 1,862 candidates.
The highest turnout was said to be in Jaisalmer district, followed by Hanumangarh and Dholpur districts.
Seven MPs, including Rajyavardhan Rathore, Diya Kumari, and Kirodi Lal Meena, have been fielded by the BJP for the Assembly elections.
Some of the MPs - all of whom were named in the first list - are contesting seats which could have otherwise gone to Vasundhara Raje loyalists.
The election in Sriganganagar's Karanpur seat was suspended because of the death of Congress candidate and incumbent MLA Gurmeet Singh Koonar.
Here are the Highlights of the Rajasthan Assembly Election 2023:
Officials seal the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) at a polling booth in Jaipur after voting for Rajasthan assembly elections concluded.
Over 69 Per Cent Voter Turnout Recorded In Rajasthan Assembly PollsOver 69 per cent of the electorate in Rajasthan voted today in a bipolar contest involving the Congress and the BJP to elect the new state government, the poll officials said.
Polling at more than 51,000 polling booths in 199 assembly constituencies started at 7 am and ended around 6 pm.
In the last assembly elections in 2018, Rajasthan recorded a voter turnout of 74.06 per cent.
Rajasthan Assembly Election Live Updates: Pokaran, Bagidora Record Highest Turnout Till 5 pmAccording to the Election Commission, Pokaran has recorded the maximum voter turnout of 81.12 per cent till 5 pm followed by Bagidora (78.21 per cent) and Jaisalmer (76.57 per cent).
Ganganagar saw a voter turnout of 72.09 per cent whereas the capital city Jaipur recorded 69.22 per cent.
Over 68% Voter Turnout In Rajasthan Till 5 pmRajasthan recorded over 68 per cent polling for 199 assembly constituencies till 5 pm, according to the date shared by the Election Commission.
As per the poll body, 68.2 polling has been done so far.
Polling in 199 assembly constituencies in the state began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.
Nearly 10 per cent of the electorate cast their votes in the first two hours of voting and the figure went up to nearly 25 per cent by 11 am and to more than 40 per cent by 1 pm. The voting percentage till 3 pm was 55.63 per cent.
Rajasthan Assembly Election Live: Tijara, Tonk Record Highest Voter Turnout Till 3 pmAs per the poll body, Tijara has recorded the highest voter turnout of 69.37 per cent till 3 pm. While Tonk reported 56.83 per cent, Jaipur witnessed 55.75 per cent of voter turnout.
Jaisalmer recorded 63.48 per cent, Jhalawar at 60.47 per cent, Hanumangarh at 61.64 per cent, and 52.23 per cent of electorate cast votes at Jalore till 3 pm.
Rajasthan Assembly Election Live Updates: More Than 55% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 3 pm
More than 55 per cent of the electorate have cast their votes in the Rajasthan assembly elections till 3 pm, officials said.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Casts His Vote In Sardarpura Constituency
Former BJP Chief Minister Clicks A Photo At The Polling Station's Selfie Point In Jhalwar
Watch: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Greeted As He Walks To The Polling Station
Rajasthan Election Live Updates: 9.77% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 9:30 am, Says Election Commission
Rajasthan Election Live Updates: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Meets His Supporters
Voting In Rajasthan Underway, Eyes On Key Constituencies, Candidates
As the polling began in Rajasthan, all eyes will be on the key constituencies of Sardarpura, Tonk, Jhalarapatan, Nathdwara, Jhunjhunu, Jhotwara, and Churu among others.
Sardarpura is on the list of key constituencies as Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has won this seat since 1998. The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Mahendra Singh Rathore from the Congress' bastion.
While from Jhalarapatan, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is contesting again from the seat which she has been winning since 2003.
"Lotus Will Bloom In Rajasthan": BJP's Vasundhara Raje
Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje on Saturday expressed confidence that the BJP will win the assembly elections in Rajasthan, saying "lotus will bloom" when the votes are counted on December 3.
Reacting to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's "undercurrent" remark, Ms Raje told reporters in Jhalawar, "I agree with him. There is indeed an undercurrent in the favour of BJP. Lotus (BJP's poll symbol) will bloom on December 3."
Ms Raje also called upon people to cast their votes.
"I request all the voters, particularly the new voters, to cast their votes as it will be important for the prime minister and the nation," she said.
"No Anti-Incumbency" In Rajasthan We'll Form Government Again: Ashok Gehlot
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said there is no anti-incumbency against the Congress and the party will form the government in the state again.
"There seems to be an undercurrent. Looks like the (Congress) government will be repeated," he said.
Gehlot told PTI in Jodhpur that the Congress focused its campaign on development issues while BJP leaders, including the prime minister, home minister and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states, used provocative language.
He said the BJP leaders who came from outside, including the prime minister and the Union home minister, tried to instigate people.
"The public has understood. It appears that the Congress government will come again," he told PTI in Jodhpur.
"We made good laws for the welfare of gig workers and on right to health and brought schemes for people and gave guarantees," he said.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Casts Her Vote
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Casts Vote With Family
Voting In Rajasthan Underway, Eye On Several Key Seats
Watch: NDTV Speaks To First-Time Voters In Rajasthan
"I Request All The Voters To Create A New Record Of Voting": PM Modi
Watch: A Voter Casts His Vote At A Polling Station In Jodhpur
Rajasthan Election Live Updates: Voters in Rajasthan have not given any government a second term since 1993 and the BJP is banking on this as well as Prime Minister Modi's popularity to return to power. Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, who is arguably the party's most popular leader in Rajasthan, has not been declared the chief ministerial face.