Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2018 updates: Rahul Gandhi asks Congress workers to 'be vigilant after polls close today'

BJP workers attack farm leader Amra Ram's driver in Jalore

BJP workers attacked former All India Kishan Sabha president Amra Ram's driver outside a polling booth in Jalore district. Police have been sent to the spot to investigate.
 

Input by Rajendra Sharma

Breakdown of voter turnout till 1 pm

Tijari reported a 49 percent voter turnout until 1 pm, While Amer and Nohar reported 47.61 percent and 46.67 percent voting respectively. Churu recorded 41.01 percent, and Khandela recorded 35.95 percent voter turnout till 1 pm.

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59.7% voting recorded till 3 pm

The voter turnout in Rajasthan until 3 pm was recorded at 59.7%. Polling in the state started off slowly, with only 6.11% of the electorate voting until 11 am.

Input by Sangeeta Sharma

Man dies of heart attack while waiting to vote in Bikaner

A teacher, Aidaan Chaudhary, suffered a fatal heart attack while standing in the line to cast his vote in Tejpura village in Bikaner'a Kolayat district

Input by LK Chhajer

Police resort to lathicharge to tame clashes in Sikar's Fatehpur

As per a report from ABP News, the clashes that broke out in Rajasthan's Sikar district between the Congress and the RLP, occurred in Fatehpur town. Sikar district is part of the Shekhawati region.

BJP promises 50 lakh private jobs, women's safety in manifesto

Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Prakash Javadekar and Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje revealed the BJP's manifesto for Rajasthan on 27 November. Raje while addressing the media made promises on the education of girls and empowerment of farmers. 

The party also promised 50 lakh jobs in the private sector in the next five years in Rajasthan, whereas 30,000 jobs will be given in the government sector every year. Raje also said up to Rs 5,000 per month will be given as unemployment allowance to eligible youths above the age of 21 years.

The saffron party in the manifesto  also promised to spend Rs 6,060 crore to address the problem of water shortage in Jawai dam. The BJP will also try to bring Arabian Sea water to Sanchore and Jalore to create an inland port, Raje said.

Clashes erupt between Congress and RLP workers in Sikar

Clashes broke out between workers of the Congress and Hanuman Beniwal's RLP in Sikar district. The cause of the clashes remains unclear.

According to India Today, security forces and the paramilitary immediately arrived at the scene and tamed the situation. They also ordered that everyone, including mediapersons, vacate the area.

Congress poll promises include free education to women, jobs for youth

The Congress, in its manifesto released on 19 November, promised to waive Rajasthan farmers' loans within 10 days of coming to power. The Opposition party has also promised pension for farmers in the state, and has announced that a separate board will be set up for administering 'gau char (cow grazing)' land in the state.

The party promised quality health services to citizens, availability of wheat to BPL families at Rs 1 per kilogram, easy monetary loans to youths and no fare in state-run buses for candidates travelling to appear in competitive exams.

It also announced to expedite work on rail connectivity in Dungarpur, Banswara and Tonk districts by working on Ajmer-Tonk-Sawaimadhopur, Dungarpur-Banswara-Ratlam railway line projects.

41.53% turnout recorded till 1 pm

Former Union minister Subhash Maharia casts vote

Flashing his freshly inked finger on Twitter, former Union minister Subhash Maharia cast his vote for the Rajasthan Assembly polls.

"Today, I voted in the General Assembly elections. I urge the people of the state to cast their vote and select a government which will contribute to the progress of the state, and also protect the interests of the people," he tweeted.

Over 20 faulty EVMs reported in Pali

More than 20 electronic voting machines (EVMs) were reported to be faulty in Rajasthan's Pali district. Pali, which lies in southwestern Rajasthan, is the state’s largest district, and accounts for 43 Assembly seats and is crucial in the ongoing polls.

Input by Sangeeta Sharma

First-time women voters demand better education facilities in Baseri

First-time voters from Sarmathura village in Baseri Assembly constituency in Dholpur district, demand that the state builds a government college for girls. They said there aren't enough facilities for women's education in the area.

Rajasthan has at least 20.29 lakh first-time voters, approximately 4.18 percent of the total 4.7 crore electorate in the state.

Input by Madhav/101Reporters

Jodhpur's erstwhile royal Gaj Singh and his wife cast votes in Sardarpura

Jasana village in Nohar constituency boycott polls over lack of police action in a murder case

Jasana village, which falls under Nohar constituency has boycotted voting. The village has 5,700 voters, but no one has come out to vote. The villagers are displeased over no arrest in the murder of villager Pawan Kumar six months ago. The villagers are determined to not participate in Lok Sabha polls also.

Vasundhara Raje's constituency Jhalrapatan sees 16% turnout till 11 am

Incumbent chief minister Vasundhara Raje's constituency Jhalarapatan saw a dismal 16 percent turnout till 11 am. The numbers arelower than the state average 22 percent till 11 am.

Raje, who is the BJP's chief ministerial candidate, is fighting against veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh's son Manvendra Singh in Jhalrapatan, the constituency she has represented since 2003. Manvendra Singh had joined Congress just before the election, making the fight tougher for Raje this time. She had won 63 per cent of the votes cast in 2013, winning the seat by a margin of 60,896.

Jhalarapatan is part of the Jhalwar district, which also includes Dag, a SC reserved seat, which saw 15.79 percent turnout, Manohar Thana (14 percent) and Khanpura (21.43 percent).

Input by Sangeeta Sharma/101Reporters

Alwar record 23.5% polling till 11 am; Alwar Rural highest in district at 25%

Alwar district recorded 23.5 percent voting till 11 am. Tijara and Alwar Rural recorded highest in the district at 25 percent each, followed by Kathumar at and Thana Gaji at 24 percent each, Beherod and Mundawar at 23 percent. Bansur and Alwar City both recorded voting at 22 percent.

Input by Rajendra Sharma/101Reporters

22% polling recorded till 11 am across state, says ECI

Sheyphali Sharan, the spokesperson of ECI, said that 22 percent polling percentage has been recorded till 11 am.

20% voting recorded in Bikaner district till 11 am

Latest reports have put the polling percentage at 20 percent in Bikaner district. The district includes seven Assembly constituencies Bikaner East, Bikaner West, Khajuwala (SC reserved seat), Kolayat, Lunkaransar, Dungargarh and Nokha. Poonam Kanwar Bhati, daughter-in-law of BJP leader and seven-time legislator Devi Singh Bhat is contesting from Kolayat assembly constituency.

Input by LK Chhajer/101Reporter

Water supply, electricity our main demands, say voters

Women of Samanpura village complain about lack of water and electricity in their village.

Input by Madhav/101Reporters

EVM snags stall polling in Jalore's Ahor, voters retaliate

After EVM malfunctions stalled voting in alore district's Ahor constituency, voters created chaos at polling booths 253 and 254.

Bharatpur locals boycott elections, cite lack of basic amenities

Villagers in Bharatpur are boycotting the elections at Weir Vidhan Sabha, citing lack of basic facilities like electricity, water, and road connectivity. People from Ataripura at Baroli Panchayat boycotted the polls as well.

Input by Rajendra Sharma 

Tussle in Bikaner's Kolayat threatens to stall polling

Two groups got into a fight in Jagaasar village in Bikaner's Kolayat, and also reportedly set a car on fire in the process. However, the incident did not impact polling.

The police reached the spot and took control of the situation.

Input by Sangeeta Sharma

Faulty EVMs reported in Nadbai

An EVM defect was reported at booth number 4 of a polling station in Bharatpur's Nadbai. Voting has also been stalled at booths 154, 119, 120, and 240.
 

Input by Rajendra Sharma

Girija Vyas casts vote, to contest in Udaipur against Gulab Chand Kataria

Girija Vyas, a Congress candidate from Udaipur, cast her vote for the Rajasthan Assembly Election on Friday. She is fighting against BJP's Gulab Chand Kataria, the incumbent home minister in the Rajasthan government.

Vyas had defeated Kataria in the 1985 polls by 512 votes.
 

Input by Madhav

Watch: Ashok Gehlot casts vote in Jodhpur

Former Rajasthan chief minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot cast his vote at booth number 106 in Jodhpur's Vardmam school Mahamandir. Gehlot is contesting the polls from Jodhpur's Sardarpura constituency.

He has previously served as chief minister from 1998 to 2003, and again from 2008 to 2013.

Input by Sangeeta Sharma

Faulty EVMs reported in at least 6 regions of Rajasthan

Several EVMs in Jalore reported to be defective, cause a delay in voting at booths 253 and 254. EVMs sangs have also been reported at Chittorgarh, Bengu, Sawai Madhopur, Pushkar, and Haidarshah. 

Input by Sangeeta Sharma

Voting delayed in Hanspur Kala due to faulty EVMs

Voting in Kishangarhbas' Hanspur Kala only began at 9:40 am, when it was supposed to begin at 8 am.

Faulty EVMs were reported in the polling booth and were subsequently replaced. However, the new ones stopped working as well. 

Input by Rajendra Sharma

6.11% polling in Rajasthan until 9 am: EC

A voter turnout of 6.11 percent was recorded across Rajasthan by 9 am, the Election Commission announced. Polling began at 8 am, and will conclude at 5 pm.

Input by Ram Gopal

Faulty EVM reported in Jodhpur

An Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at a polling station at Jodhpur's Kamla Nagar blind school was found to be defective.

Input by Sangeeta Sharma

People looking for change, Congress offers just that: Sachin Pilot

CNN News18 quoted state Congress chief Sachin Pilot as saying that people have been dissatisfied with the state government for five years. "The issue is about the development of Rajasthan," he said.

Pilot also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ignoring Rajasthan. "Where was the honourable prime minister for five years?" he asked, adding that "no senior BJP leader came to Rajasthan when there were floods, droughts or suicides."

Muslim votebank can impact polls in Tonk

Vasundhara Raje casts vote in Jhalrapatan, slams Sharad Yadav for fat shaming her

Incumbent chief minister Vasundhara Raje cast her vote in Jhalawar district's Jhalrapatan, from where she is contesting the polls.

Speaking to media, she also responded to Sharad Yadav's comment calling her "fat" and said: "I am absolutely shocked that a politician with so much experience, who has been so close to our family, would use such language. You will never hear a BJP leader using such language."

"I am insulted," she said about his comment.

'Come celebrate democracy, come vote', says Vasundhara Raje

Rajasthan's incumbent chief minister Vasundhara Raje took to Twitter to encourage citizens to vote. "Every citizen of the state is a key pillar of democracy, and the Constitution has given you the right to vote to choose your government. Therefore, your moral duty is to exercise franchise and motivate others to do the same. Come celebrate democracy, come vote," she tweeted.

More male voters than female voters in Rajasthan

There are 4,77,89,815 voters in the state among whom, 2,28,28,018 are female and 2,49,61,560 male voters. There are 1,16,944 service voters whereas 15 NRI electors and 222 third gender electors in the state.

Sachin Pilot urges citizens to exercise franchise

Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) president Sachin Pilot, who is also contesting the polls from Tonk constituency, took to Twitter to encourage citizens to turn out in large numbers for the polls. 

"The fate of the next five years is in your hands," he said.

Polling to begin at 8 am, election in Alwar's Ramgarh postponed

According to election officials, polling will take place from 8 am to 5 pm on 7 December in 199 constituencies. The election in Alwar district's Ramgarh constituency has been postponed due to the death of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Laxman Singh.

At least 650 companies of security forces on poll duty

Elaborate security arrangements have also been made to ensure free and fair polls in the 51,965 polling stations in the state. According to sources, at least 650 companies have been called from outside.

Additionally, 134 CRPF companies, 110 BSF companies, 103 CISF companies, 42 ITBP companies, 41 SSB companies and 45 companies of the RPF have been employed to maintain decorum during polling.