Rajasthan Assembly Elections Begin

In a significant electoral moment, voters in Rajasthan have cast their ballots for 199 out of 200 assembly seats in a crucial battle between the ruling Congress and the BJP. The election in the Karanpur constituency was adjourned due to the unfortunate passing of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.

Polling began promptly at 7 am, continuing until 6 pm, with stringent security measures in place to ensure a peaceful and fair democratic process.

The Congress, vying for another term, faces a formidable challenge from the BJP, aiming to unseat the current Ashok Gehlot government by leveraging the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Notable contenders include Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, former CM Vasundhara Raje, former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot, and other prominent figures from both parties.

Despite efforts to persuade rebel candidates to withdraw, approximately 45 rebels from both the BJP and Congress, including MLAs, former MLAs, and party officials, remain in contention. The counting of votes is scheduled for December 3, marking the culmination of an intense electoral battle marked by both parties striving to outdo each other in terms of promises and commitments. Smaller parties, including the BSP, Aam Aadmi Party, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, Bharatiya Adivasi Party, CPI-M, Jannayak Janata Party, and Azad Samaj Party, add complexity to the political landscape.

Key issues such as violence against women, a paper leak scam, and farmers’ suicides have been prominent in the BJP’s campaign against the ruling Congress. Chief Minister Gehlot, however, remains steadfast, asserting that the Congress will break the three-decade-old alternating government trend in the state.

Star campaigners from both parties, including Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the BJP, and Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge for the Congress, have crisscrossed the state in a final push to woo voters.

The BJP’s manifesto outlines key resolutions, including the implementation of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Laho Incentive Scheme, Direct Benefit Transfer, and Bhamashah Health Infrastructure Mission. The Congress promises a caste-based census, a new panchayat-level recruitment scheme, and legislation for the minimum support price for farmers.

With 5,26,90,146 voters across 51,890 polling stations, including 1,70,99,334 young voters in the 18-30 age group, the fate of candidates now rests in the hands of the electorate. The Chief Electoral Officer reported over 3 lakh people exercising their franchise via postal ballots, with a robust deployment of 1,02,290 security personnel, including police, home guard, forest guard, RAC personnel, and 700 companies of CAPF, ensuring a secure and orderly voting process.