In keeping with Chhattisgarh and MP earlier, Rajasthan on Sunday also saw a huge voter turnout — 74% — for the assembly elections amid reports of firing, bids to capture booths, clashes and vehicles burning. More 40.8 million voters exercised their franchise.
Voting in one constituency — Churu — of the 200 was countermanded because of the death of a candidate. Of the 33 districts in Rajasthan the highest percentage of polling was in Jaisalmer — 85.52% — and the lowest in Bharatpur, 55.21%.
Chief electoral officer Ashok Jain said besides few small incidents, polling went on peacefully.
“The voter turnout by 7pm is 74% and on. The voting figure is high compared to the one for the 2003 assembly polls, which was 67.5%,” he added.
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Jain said in two places – Mahua constituency (Dausa) and Rajgarh-Laxmangarh (Alwar) – the police fired in the air outside polling booths.
Around 12 people were arrested. On complaints from some polling booths, he said the issues had been settled.
{{/usCountry}}Around 12 people were arrested. On complaints from some polling booths, he said the issues had been settled.
{{/usCountry}}Complaints of some Dalit organisations would be checked and then action taken, he added.
On the demand for re-poll by political parties and organisations he said, “There is a process for re-polling … a decision will be taken, if required.”
Incidents of violence were reported mostly in eastern Rajasthan, dominated by the Meena-Gurjar communities.
Dalits were allegedly threatened and prevented from voting by people belonging to dominant castes in assembly constituencies of Dausa, Alwar, Rajsamand, Bharatpur, Pali, Dholpur, Ajmer and Sawai Madhopur.