Rajasthan election highlights: 72% turnout, exit polls predict Congress win

The election is a direct contest between BJP and Congress.

Polling for the Rajasthan assembly has ended. Over 72 per cent of the 47.4 million registered voters had cast their vote by 5 pm.

Polling began at 51,687 booths across the state began at 8 am and was largely peaceful, officials said.

The election in Ramgarh constituency of Alwar district was put off following the death of Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Laxman Singh.

The results will be out on December 11, along with those from the other four states which saw Assembly elections in the past few weeks.

In about 130 constituencies, the contest appears to be mainly between the BJP and the Congress.

In the current House, the BJP has 160 seats and the Congress 25.

Read our full coverage on Rajasthan Assembly Election 2018

Key candidates

Raje is contesting elections from Jhalrapatan constituency from Rajasthan's Jhalawar district, same as she did in the 2003, 2008 and 2013 elections. She is facing BJP veteran Jaswant Singh's son Manvendra Singh who has defected to the Congress

Congress leader Ashok Gehlot is contesting from Jodhpur's Sardarpura constituency. Sachin Pilot is contesting state polls for the first time, from Rajasthan's Tonk constituency. Pilot is in contest with BJP's only Muslim face in the state -Yoonus Khan. Other prominent candidates from Congress include famous Jat leader Rameshwar Lal Dudi who is contesting from Nokha, senior Congress leader and former state revenue minister Hemaram Choudhary from Gudha Malani, state vice-president Mahendra Jeet Singh Malviya from Bagidora, former state home minister Shanti Dhariwal from Kota.

From BJP, also in the fray are state heavyweights like state rural development minister Rajendra Rathore from Churu, Jaipur mayor Ashok Parnami from Adarsh Nagar, state women and child welfare minister Anita Bhadel from Ajmer South, and state home minister Gulab Chand Kataria from Udaipur. Bahujan Samajwadi Party's 5-time MP and 2-time MLA, Lakshman Singh Chaudhary is contesting from Ramgarh.

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Curious as to which party will win elections in which state? 

The exit poll results for elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram are out. Catch latest updates here - https://mybs.in/2VsF5k2

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Rajasthan polls: All-woman polling booths evoke mixed response

 

The Election Commission's move to set up all-woman booths for the Assembly polls in Rajasthan received a mixed response with the voters giving it a thumbs up but the polling staff expressing some reservations. (Read more here) 

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Stay alert, EVMs have mysterious powers in Modi's India: Rahul to party workers

 

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday asked party workers to be vigilant after polls close in Rajasthan and Telangana, saying in "Modi's India, the EVMs have mysterious powers". (Read more here) 

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This Rajasthan village's residents have refused to vote

 

Residents of Chhemar Ka Pura village under Rajakhera Assembly constituency have decided to not cast votes alleging that their long-pending demand of a proper approach road to their village is yet to be met. "Candidates seek votes, they win but do not address our long-pending demand of a proper approach road to the village. We have largely decided to boycott polling," Gendalal Kushwah, a local, said. 

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Rajasthan polls: It is not just the elders, the youth, too, were excited about casting votes. "Quality education and employment are the main issue for youngsters. There is a need to improve education infrastructure in the state, because many of us have to go out of the state for higher studies," Utkarsh Agnihotri, a first-time voter who is preparing for NEET, said in Jaipur. 

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In many parts of Rajasthan, more than 20 per cent votes were cast in the first three hours of polling, which started at 8 am. 

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Rajasthan polls: Waiting in a queue to cast his vote in Sanganer Assembly constituency of Jaipur, Mohan Singh said, "I have come with my grandchildren who are minors, but it is good for them to see the polling process. It makes them aware." 

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Young and old queue up in booths for peace, prosperity and employment

 

Her back bent over with age, nonagenarian Rama Devi, with the support of her family members, walked to a polling booth in a village in Rajasthan's Jodhpur and exercised her franchise. "There must be peace and prosperity in the country," the 96-year-old said as her wrinkled face gleamed with a smile when asked what encouraged her to vote. (Read more here)  

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Rajasthan polls: Despite hardships, people from remote villages came out to vote with a noticeable number of women seen at the polling stations. One such voter is 101-year-old Pali Devi who voted at a booth in Barmer. 

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Rajasthan polls: People here had to walk long distances as polling booths are located at far off places. Both the districts share a border with Pakistan and are part of the Thar desert region. 

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Voters walk miles through desert to cast votes

 

In Rajasthan's border districts of Barmer and Jaisalmer, people reached polling booths walking several miles through the desert to cast their votes Friday. (Read more here)