Rajasthan Election 2023 Highlights: Rajasthan recorded a voter turnout of 70.35 per cent, as per provisional data provided by Election Commission of India. 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. Till 3 PM over 55 per cent voter turnout was recorded. By 5 pm, the voter turnout was recorded at 68.24 per cent. Polling in 199 assembly constituencies in the state began at 7 AM and concluded at 6 PM. On Saturday, polling is being held in 199 out of the 200 assembly constituencies in the state. Polling in the Karanpur assembly constituency in Sriganganagar has been postponed due to the death of the Congress candidate and sitting MLA Gurmeet Singh Koonar. More than 5.25 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,862 candidates in these 199 seats. The votes will be counted on December 3.
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Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta said that polling stations have been set up at a total of 36,101 places in the state and live webcasting will be conducted at a total of 26,393 polling stations.
Here are the live updates from Rajasthan:
Rajasthan Elections Highlights: A total of 199 seats out of the 200 went to polls on Saturday.
Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) being sealed & secured at a polling booth in Savali village, Bikaner.
About 68.24 per cent voter turnout recorded in Rajasthan till 5pm, as per Election Commission of India.
In Sikar's Fatehpur, two groups clashed and engaged in stone pelting, police said.
There were also reports of a clash between supporters of two candidates in Dholpur's Bari seat. (PTI)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot says, "We have got the blessings of the people. Congress government will be formed again...I don't care who says what..."
55.63% voter turnout recorded in Rajasthan till 3pm, as per Election Commission of India.
Stone pelting reported near Bochiwal Bhawan, Fatehpur Shekhawati in Sikar. Heavy Police deployed.
Rajasthan recorded 40.27 per cent polling for 199 assembly constituencies till 1.30 pm, the Election Commission informed on Saturday.
The BJP has accused Rahul Gandhi of violating poll guidelines with his post on X on the day of the Rajasthan assembly polls and urged the Election Commission to seek suspension of the Congress leader's social media account and initiate other actions against him.
State Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra says, "There is enthusiasm for Congress in the entire state. People are voting with joy. With the kind of work done by Congress and the guarantees given by the party, there is zeal. The management done by the state government during COVID has led to a positive thought for the government among people. Congress government will come back to power with a good majority."
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi says, "There is no anti-incumbency wave against CM Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan. People are seeing that there is infighting in the BJP. There is no clarity of leadership in the BJP."
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Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla casts his vote in Rajasthan's Kota. After casting his vote, he said, "People are taking active participation in this festival of democracy. Every voter should exercise his right to vote to express her/her views."
Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra casts his vote in Sikar He is contesting from Laxmangarh assembly seat.
The voting percentage till 11 am was 24.74. Till 11 am, the highest polling of 38.56 per cent was recorded in the Kaman assembly constituency and 34.08 per cent in Tijara.
Voting will continue till 6 pm.
Rajasthan on Saturday recorded 24.74 per cent polling for 199 assembly constituencies till 11.30 am, the Election Commission informed.
The lowest turnout in Jaipur district till 9 am was in Bagru, where 7.86 per cent of the electorate cast their votes, according to an official report.
In the district, Shahpura recorded a voter turnout of 11.78 per cent, Jhotwara 11.28 per cent, Chaksu 11.07 per cent and Virat Nagar 11.04 per cen
Former Congress MP and party's candidate from Siwana, Manvendra Singh and his wife Chitra Singh cast their votes at a polling booth in Mewa Nagar, Barmer.
In the district, Shahpura recorded 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.
In Jaipur district, the Kotputli assembly constituency recorded a voter turnout of 12.04 per cent till 9 am, the highest among the 19 constituencies in the district.
Nearly 10 per cent of the electorate cast their votes in the first two hours of voting in Rajasthan on Saturday. Polling for 199 assembly constituencies in the state began at 7 am.
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot meets his supporters on his way to the polling station in Sardarpura
Rajasthan BJP president C P Joshi on Saturday accused the Congress government of failing to deliver on its promises and indulging in corruption, and said people will give a befitting reply to the party in the assembly elections.
"After coming to power, the Congress forgot its promises. It only committed corruption and cheated people," Joshi told PTI in Chittorgarh as voting got underway in the state. (PTI)
Kirodi Lal Meena, BJP MP and candidate from Sawai Madhopur, expresses, "There is remarkable enthusiasm among the voters. People are actively participating in this significant democratic festival. However, there is a notable issue of slow voting at various locations due to inadequate electricity arrangements. Consequently, I have urged the District Election Officer to ensure proper electricity arrangements and expedite the voting process."
According to the first figures on the Election Commission, 9.77 per cent voter turnout has been registered in Rajasthan till 9 am.
Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, senior Congress leader and minister in Ashok Gehlot govt, casts his vote in Jaipur
On the day of polling in Rajasthan, Union Minister and BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasizes the importance of achieving 100% voter turnout. He urges the voters in the state to cast their votes with the goal of envisioning Rajasthan as a growth engine to propel India towards becoming a developed nation.
The ex-Chief Minister and BJP candidate for the Jhalrapatan assembly constituency, Vasundhara Raje, exercised her voting right at a polling booth in Jhalawar.
Rajasthan Water Resources Minister Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya conveyed optimism about winning the assembly elections, asserting that the majority of voters in his Bagidora constituency were supporting him. "I am confident that the general voters in my Bagidora constituency are backing me. My victory is inevitable," Malviya said. Situated in Banswara district, Bagidora is the electoral battleground for the minister, who is running as a Congress candidate. Prior to casting his vote, he visited a Hanuman temple to offer prayers.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot casts his vote at a polling booth in the Civil Lines area of Jaipur
In the 2018 assembly polls, the Congress wrested power from the BJP and formed the government with Ashok Gehlot as chief minister for a third time. The Congress had won 100 seats and the BJP 73 then. In the 2013 assembly elections, the BJP formed the government with Vasundhara Raje becoming the chief minister for a second time. In 2013, the BJ had won 163 seats and the Congress 21.