Rajasthan Assembly polls 2023 LIVE: Voting concludes in state

Rajasthan state Assembly elections LIVE: Catch all the latest updates of Rajasthan elections 2023 here

Rajasthan state Assembly elections 2023: 199 seats of the 200-seat Assembly went to polls today. Booths were open from 7 am to 6 pm. Following the death of Congress candidate and incumbent MLA Gurmeet Singh Koonar, the election for the Karanpur seat in Sriganganagar has been put on hold. The counting of votes will take place for all five poll-bound states on December 3.

The Election Commission of India recorded 55.63 per cent voter turnout till 3 pm. Tijara has recorded the highest voter turnout of 69.37 per cent till 3 pm. In comparison, Tonk reported 56.83 per cent, Jaipur witnessed 55.75 per cent, 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 today.

While there were some minor clashes in the state, the overall election process remained relatively peaceful.

Elections are being contested by 1,862 candidates. Out of these, 183 are female, and 1,692 are male candidates. 52.5 million registered voters are registered in the state. 17.1 million voters are between the ages of 18 and 30, and 2.26 million are new voters from the 18-19 age group.

The Bharatiya Janata Party fielded seven of its MPs including  Rajyavardhan Rathore, Diya Kumari, and Kirodi Lal Meena, Former chief minister Vasundhara Rje is also contesting from Jhalawar constituency.

Incumbent Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is contesting from the Sardarpura seat, in Jodhpur district for the sixth consecutive time. He has held the seat since 1998. BJP has contested Mahendra Singh Rathore, chairman of the Jodhpur Development Authority and a professor at the Jai Narayan Vyas University, against the chief minister.

Congress leader and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot will be contesting the Tonk seat against BJP's Ajit Singh Mehta.

The 2018 Rajasthan state Assembly elections recorded a 72.6 per cent voter turnout and the Congress party formed the government with support of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and independents.

5:41 PM

International para athlete and KBC winner Shatabdi Awasthi casts her vote in Jaipur

5:38 PM

No voting was hindered during clash in Sikar, one police jawan suffers minor injury

5:29 PM

Highest voter turnout recorded at 69.37% in Tijara till 3 pm

According to the Election Commission of India, Tijara has recorded the highest voter turnout of 69.37 per cent till 3 pm. In comparison, Tonk reported 56.83 per cent, Jaipur witnessed 55.75 per cent, 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 today.

Poll booths close at 6 pm

4:57 PM

We have public's support on our side: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot

Arriving in Jaipur after casting his vote, Congress leader and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tells reporters, "We have public's support on our side and we will win and form our government."

4:54 PM

Voters cast their votes in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan

4:21 PM

BJP will win more than 163 seats in Rajasthan: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi

3:57 PM

55.63% voter turnout recorded till 3 pm

55.63 per cent voter turnout recorded till 3 pm according to the Election Commission of India.

 

3:25 PM

Stone pelting reported in Sikar, heavy police deployed

1:52 PM

40.27% voter turnout recorded in Rajasthan till 1pm

40.27 per cent voter turnout recorded in Rajasthan till 1pm, as per Election Commission of India.

1:30 PM

Bridegrooms cast votes in Rajasthan before their wedding

Election Commission of India share images of bridgrooms casting their votes at polling booths in Rajasthan before heading to their respective weddings.

1:27 PM

Congress government will come back to power with a good majority: Congress leader Govind Singh Dotasra

Speaking with ANI after casting his vote for the Rajasthan elections, 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."

1:26 PM

RLP leader Hanuman Beniwal casts his vote in Baran

1:01 PM

BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of violating poll guidelines in Rajasthan, seek EC action

BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of violating poll guidelines with his post on X related to Rajasthan polls on day of voting. BJP urges the Election Commission to seek suspension of his account and to take action against him. (PTI)

 

12:52 PM

This is not just a day of voting in Rajasthan but also the day of the liberation of the state from Cong: BJP

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla hits out against the ruling Congress government. He says, "This is not just a day of voting in Rajasthan but also the day of the liberation of the state - liberation from the people who took the guarantee of making Rajasthan number 1 in rape and crimes against women, liberation from the people who took the guarantee of unemployment and paper leak in Rajasthan, from people who did unprecedented corruption in Rajasthan, from those who promised farm loan waiver but deceived them and auctioned the land of 19,500 farmers...Today, voters of the state have the opportunity to liberate the state from misgovernance." (ANI)

12:41 PM

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla urges people in Rajasthan to vote

After casting his vote in Kote, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla says, "People are taking active participation in this festival of democracy. Every voter should exercise his right to vote to express her/her views."