Rajasthan assembly elections 2018 LIVE updates: 72.62% voter turnout till 5pm amid reports of clashes

Over 2,000 candidates are in the fray for 199 assembly seats in Rajasthan, where polling on Friday will determine whether the BJP bucks anti-incumbency and an increasingly aggressive opposition to return to power. Votes will be cast at 51,687 polling booths, 259 of them managed exclusively by women officials and security personnel.It is a seen as a straight fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress for about 130 seats. In other constituencies, groups like the Bahujan Samaj Party and rebels who are contesting against official party candidates may queer the pitch.In the current House, the BJP has 160 seats and the Congress 25. Vasundhara Raje, who hopes to return as the state’s chief minister, is contesting from Jhalrapatan constituency, considered her bastion.Click here for Telangana assembly election 2018 Live UpdatesThis time she face BJP veteran Jaswant Singh’s son Manvendra Singh who has defected to the Congress, complaining that his old party had hurt the pride of the Rajputs by ignoring his father in the last Lok Sabha election.In Tonk, Sachin Pilot and Rajasthan Transport Minister and BJP candidate Yoonus Khan are face to face. Khan is the only Muslim candidate fielded by his party. Ashok Gehlot is fighting for the Sardarpura seat.Also read | Urban vs Rural: Voting patterns in RajasthanTelangana and Rajasthan are the last states to go to the polls in the current round of assembly elections, which also covered Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram. The counting for all states is on December 11.:

7:10 pm IST

Turnout in Rajasthan assembly polls 72.62%

Turnout in Rajasthan assembly polls was 72.62 per cent, says Election Commission, reports PTI.

6:20 pm IST

Visuals from Sardarpura

Visuals from Sardarpura constituency as voting concludes at the polling booth at Miranda Public School.

5:55 pm IST

Visuals from Jhalawar

Visuals from Jhalawar as polling concludes at polling booth number 31(A). Voter turnout recorded at this particular booth is 73.83%.

5:16 pm IST

Three injured in clash in Churu

Three people injured in Khudera Chhota village of Churu district after a clash between two groups. The injured have been identified as Virendra Singh, Chatar Singh and Ugaram Jat. “The injured have been rushed to the government hospital and are undergoing treatment. Injuries are not grievous,” said Narayan Dan, circle officer, Ratangarh.

5:12 pm IST

Brawl in Alwar, ITBP personnel fire in air

After a brawl broke out in a polling booth in Palava village of Alwar district, security personnel of Indo-Tibetan Border Police fired in the air control the situation. No injury was reported.

5:06 pm IST

72.17% polling till 5pm

Voter turnout recorded till 5 pm in Rajasthan is 72.17%.

5:00 pm IST

Cong says it received 460 poll-related complaints

Congress says it received 460 complaints at its control room in state headquarters. Around 400 of them were related to EVM malfunction and delay in start of polling. At 160 places, there were complaints of attempt to capture booth, intimidate voters and violence by BJP. Rajasthan Congress general secretary Sushil Sharma said the party reported all this to the election commission.

4:15 pm IST

Constable dies of heart attack

Police constable deputed in election duty in Beawar in Ajmer district dies of heart attack.

03:00 pm IST

Voter turnout recorded 59.41% till 3pm in Rajasthan

The voter turnout was recorded 59.41% till 3 pm in Rajasthan.

02:35 pm IST

Two group clash, set vehicles on fire

Vehicles were set on fire and vandalised in a clash which broke out between two groups at a polling booth at Subhash school in Sikar’s Fatehpur today. Voting remained affected for 30 minutes. Miscreants were later removed from spot by police and voting was resumed, according to a report in ANI.

Vehicle set ablaze at a polling booth as two groups clash in Rajasthan. Photo: ANI

02:00 pm IST

Women flaunt their inked finger in Amber area of Jaipur

Women seated in jeep in traditional Rajput Lahariya show their inked finger after casting vote at a polling booth in Amber area, in Jaipur, India.

Women flaunt their inked finger in Amber area, in Jaipur, India, after casting vote. Photo: Himanshu Vyas/ Hindustan Times

01:50 pm IST

114-year-old woman arrived with her 90-year-old daughter to cast vote

A 114-year-old woman, Dakha Devi along with her 90-year-old daughter, Birmi Devi, arrived at a polling booth in Barkatullah Khan stadium in Jodhpur to cast vote.

A volunteer carries 114-year-old woman, Dakha Devi to the polling booth. HT Photo

Dakha Devi’s 90-year-old daughter, Birmi Devi, being carried inside polling booth. HT Photo

01:01 pm IST

Voter turnout recorded 41.53% till 1 pm

Voter turnout at 1 pm is recorded 41.53%, according to ANI

12:38 pm IST

97-year-old man along with his 85-year-old wife reaches poll station to vote

A 97-year-old man, identified as Nagender Singh Chouhan and his 85-year-old wife Yuvraj Kuwar cast their votes at a polling station in Jhalawar.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: 97-year-old Nagender Singh Chouhan and his 85-year-old wife Yuvraj Kuwar cast their votes. ANI Photo

12:30 pm IST

Erstwhile royals of Jodhpur, Gaj Singh and his wife cast their votes

Erstwhile royals of Jodhpur, Gaj Singh and his wife cast their votes at polling booth no. 194 in Sardarpura constituency.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Erstwhile royals of Jodhpur, Gaj Singh and his wife. ANI Photo

12:20 pm IST

97-year-old woman reaches poll booth, casts vote

A 97-year-old woman, identified as Basanti Bai,reached the poll booth with the help of a volunteer who carried her in his arms in Kota south constituency to cast vote.

12:15 pm IST

101-year-old woman casts her vote

101-year-old Pali Devi cast her vote at Baldev Nagar polling station in Barmer city, Rajasthan.

101-year-old woman casts her vote. HT Photo

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: 101-year-old woman casts her vote. HT Photo

12:10 pm IST

Officials take stock of situation from control room

DGP OP Galhotra and special DG NRK Reddy taking stock of situation from control room located at police head quarters.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: DGP OP Galhotra and special DG NRK Reddy taking stock of situation. HT Photo

12:00 pm IST

Women queue at Kho-Nagoriyan government school

Voters in queue at Kho-Nagoriyan government school in Jaipur to cast their vote.

Rajasthan elections 2018: Voters line up. Photo: Hindustan Times/ Jaykishan Sharma

11:45 am IST

First time voters line up at poll booths in Rajasthan

First time voters show their inked finger after casting vote at a polling booth in Mohalla Mahaavtaan, in Jaipur, India.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: First time voters (from left) Andleeb Khan, Suraiya and Sumbul Khan. (Photo: Himanshu Vyas/ Hindustan Times)

When asked what Andleeb Khan, first time voter, expects from the next government, she told Hindustan Times, “There should be better education and more scholarships. The working of the current government is really lazy. We need a government that works quickly.”

11:40 am IST

Former Alwar MP casts his vote

Former Alwar MP Jitendra Singh with his wife after casting vote.

Rajasthan assembly polls 2018: Former Alwar MP Jitendra Singh with his wife after casting vote. HT Photo

11:25 am IST

BJP minister joins the queue in Bikaner

BJP minister Arjun Ram Meghwal stands in a queue to cast his vote at polling booth no. 172 in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: BJP minister stands in line as he waits to cast his vote. ANI Photo

11:17 am IST

Voter turnout till 11 am stands to 21.6%

The voter turnout till 11 am in Rajasthan assembly elections 2018 is 21.6%.

11:10 am IST

Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot casts his vote

Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot casts his vote along with his family.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot casts his vote along with family. Photo HT

10:50 am IST

Voters create ruckus following EVM malfunction in Rajasthan’s Ahor

At 9:30 am it was reported that the EVM in Rajasthan’s Ahor malfunctioned due to which the voting was halted. According to ANI report, the voters are creating ruckus at the polling booth no. 253 and 254 in Ahor constituency of Jalore.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Voters create rucks at polling booth following EVM glitch. ANI photo

10:40 am IST

EVM replaced in Bikarner’s Ksamidesar following technical glitch

EVM was replaced (at polling booth no. 172) in Bikaner’s Kisamidesar after a technical glitch was reported, according to ANI.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: EVM being replaced. ANI Photo

10:30 am IST

Voter turnout 6.3% till 10:30 am

The voter turnout in Rajasthan assembly elections 2018 till 10:30 is 6.3%.

10:15 am IST

Congress leader Ashok Gehlot casts his vote in Jodhpur

Congress leader Ashok Gehlot cast his vote at polling booth no. 106 in Jodhpur.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Ashok Gehlot casts his vote. ANI photo ( ANI photo )

10:10 am IST

Specially abled people cast their vote in Rajasthan

The voting begins in election-bound state, specially abled people come out in numbers to cast their vote. The volunteers at the polling booths helped the people reach the booth. Here are the glimpses:

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Specially abled man casts his vote. HT Photo ( HT Photo )

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Specially abled man casts his vote. HT Photo ( HT Photo )

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Specially abled man casts his vote. HT Photo ( HT photo )

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Specially abled man casts his vote. HT Photo

09:55 am IST

Voter turnout is 6.11% till now

Voter turnout till 9 am in Rajasthan assembly election 2018 is 6.11 per cent, news agency ANI reported.

09:48 am IST

Fresh glimpses from different polling arenas across Rajasthan

Here are the fresh glimpses from different polling arenas across Rajasthan that went to assembly polls 2018 today.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Ground image from polling booths. Photo: Himanshu Vyas / Hindustan Times ( HT photo )

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Ground image from polling booths. Photo: Himanshu Vyas / Hindustan Times ( HT photo )

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Ground image from polling booths. Photo: Himanshu Vyas / Hindustan Times ( HT photo )

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Ground image from polling booths. Photo: Himanshu Vyas / Hindustan Times ( HT Photo )

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Ground image from polling booths. Photo: Himanshu Vyas / Hindustan Times ( HT photo )

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Photo: Images from the polling ground. Photo: Himanshu Vyas / Hindustan Times

09:35 am IST

90-year-old man casts his vote

A 90-year-old man arrives at polling booth no. 104 in Jodhpur district’s Sardarpura constituency to caste his vote.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Elderly man casts his vote. HT Photo ( ANI photo )

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Elderly man casts his vote. HT Photo ( ANI photo )

09:30 am IST

Voting in Ahor yet to being following EVM malfunction

Voting at polling booth no. 253 and 254 in Ahor yet to begin following EVM malfunction.

09:25 am IST

Leaders, ministers cast vote, flaunt their inked fingers

Here are the visuals of leaders and ministers from different polling booths in Rajasthan.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Jodhpur mayor Ghanshyam Ojha casts his vote. HT Photo ( HT photo )

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Union agriculture minister Gajendra Shekhawat and his family flaunt their inked fingers in Jodhpur. HT Photo ( HT photo )

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Jaipur district election officer Siddharth Mahajan and his wife after casting their vote in Jaipur. HT Photo ( HT photo )

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Congress candidate Amin Kagzi from Kishanpole constituency after casting vote. HT Photo ( HT photo )

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: BJP MLA Vijay Bansal castes his vote. HT Photo ( HT photo )

09:15 am IST

An elderly man casts his vote

A scout helping an elderly person at a polling station.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Elderly man reaches polling booth. HT photo

09:10 am. IST

I feel insulted: CM Vasundhara Raje on Sharad Yadav’s remarks

“To set an example for future it’s important that EC takes cognisance of this kind of language. I actually feel insulted and I think even women are insulted,” Vasundhara Raje told ANI.

09:05 am IST

We will sit and discuss: Sachin Pilot on chief minister face from Congress

“We will sit and discuss this after our party gets a majority in the election,” Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot told ANI on chief minister face from Congress.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Sachin Gehlot poses after casting his vote. HT Photo ( HT photo )

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Sachin Pilot poses after casting his vote. HT Photo ( HT photo )

09:01 am IST

Congress candidate from Baytoo Harish Choudhary casts his vote

The Congress candidate from Baytoo assembly seat Harish Choudhary casts his vote.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Harish Choudhary poses after casting his vote. HT Photo

09:00 am IST

MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore casts his vote in Vaishali

MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore casts his votes at polling booth 252 in Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore (ANI photo)

“Every single vote counts. We have to cast our vote today by thinking who is actually taking the nation forward, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore told ANI after casting his vote.

08: 59 am IST

80-year-old woman casts her vote in Sardarpura constituency of Jodhpur district.

In Sardarpura constituency (at booth no. 103) of Jodhpur district, an 80-year-old woman cast her vote.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: 80-year-old woman casts her vote (ANI photo)

08:50 am IST

Visual from Gaur Vipra senior secondary school in Jalupura

People stand in line to cast their votes.

Rajasthan assembly elections 2018: People line up to vote. HT photo

08:45 am IST

Ashok Gehlot casts vote, EVM stops working

According to reports, the EVM stopped functioning at Sardarpura constituency after Ashok Gehlot cast his vote.

08:38 am IST

Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje casts her vote

Chief minister Vasundhara Raje reached Jhalarapatan booth with her son and daughter-in-law to cast the vote.

ANI photo

The BJP candidate from Jhalarapatan and Raje cast their vote at pink polling booth.

08:32 am IST

Voting in Kota halts after EVM malfunctions

Polling in Kota (at booth no. 157) was stopped after fault in EVM was reported.

08: 30 am IST

Delay in starting of voting in Kota and Bharatpur

Complaints are being reported from Kota and Bharatpur of there being a delay in starting of voting. The control room informed the concerned officials about it.

08:25 am IST

Another EVM malfunctions, this time in Jhotwara

Another EVM malfunctioned, this time (at booth no. 30) in Jhotwara, a suburban area of Jaipur.

08:15 am IST

Rajasthan Anand Kumar reaches polling booth to cash his vote

Rajasthan CEO Anand Kumar reaches Gandhi Nagar polling booth in Jaipur to cast his vote.

08:08 am IST

EVM malfunctions in Fatehpur town in the Sikar district

As Rajasthan goes to poll, EVM (at booth no. 134) in Fatehpur town in the Sikar district malfunctioned. EVM was replaced.

08:01 am IST

Voting begins

Voting begins in election-bound state. The votes will be cast at 51,687 polling booths in Rajasthan, 259 of them managed exclusively by women officials and security personnel.

07:55 am IST

Rajasthan home minister Gulab Chand Kataria offers prayers before casting his vote

As the state preps for the big day, Rajasthan home minister Gulab Chand Kataria offers prayers at Shiv temple in Udaipur before casting his vote.

07:25 am IST

Mock polling conducted in Jodhpur’s Sardarpura constituency

Mock polling was conducted (at booth no. 106) in Jodhpur’s Sardarpura constituency.

07:10 am IST

Voting in Jodhpur to begin at 8 am

As Rajasthan gets ready to vote today, polling stations in the election-bound state preps for the big day. Voting for the state assembly elections in Jodhpur to big at 8 am.

06:45 am IST

A pink polling booth in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar

A Pink polling booth has been set up in Jhalawar. The voting for the state assembly elections 2018 will start at 8 am on Friday.

06:40 am IST

Ramgarh assembly constituency postponed after BSP candidate died of cardiac arrest

Ramgarh assembly constituency election in Alwar district has been postponed after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Laxman Singh died of cardiac arrest on Thursday.

Voting will now take place in 199 assembly constituencies in Rajasthan instead of 200 on December 7.

6:31 am IST

Voting to begin in 199 constituencies of Rajasthan

The tug of war with a total of 2, 274 candidates in the fray will begin at 8 am and continue till 5 pm. Elections will take place at 51,667 polling stations where 4,74,79,402 people are eligible to cast vote.

6:26 am IST

Rajasthan elections will be held impartially and peacefully: State DGP

“We had started preparations for the polls from June this year. I can confirm that Rajasthan elections will be held impartially and peacefully. Since June, we have taken into custody 2,11,869 warranties. We registered 3,695 cases under Arms Act and arrested 3,653 criminals and recovered 4,156 arms. In a record, we have taken into custody 10,07,467 litres illicit liquor from across the state. During this exercise, as many as10, 209 criminals were arrested,” said Director General of Police OP Gehlotra elaborating the arrangements made for the elections.

6:21 am IST

Top contenders

Besides Vasundhara Raje who is contesting from Jhalrapatan, other top contenders include state Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria from Udaipur, another Minister Rajendra Rathore from Churu, state party president Ashok Parnami from Adarsh Nagar and Anita Bhadel from Ajmer South.

On the other hand, Congress has former MP Rameshwar Lal Dudi from Nokha, Sachin Pilot from Tonk, Ashok Gehlot from Sardarpur and former Rajasthan minister Hemaram Choudhary from Gudha Malani.

6:16 am IST

Political temple run in Aravallis

At a time when entire Rajasthan was abuzz with high-decibel election campaign, a centuries old temple in the Aravallis was witness to footfalls from the who’s who of the state’s political arena.

It is believed that goddess Tripura Sundari posses mystic power to fulfil wishes of success in politics, which draws scores of political bigwigs cutting across party lines.

Among other high profile devotees, the temple saw visits of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Congress’ Digvijay Singh, former Rajasthan Governor SK Singh and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Haridev Joshi.

6:06 am IST

Alwar group makes candidates sign affidavit of promises for votes

A group in Alwar has reached out to candidates contesting polls in Rajasthan, asking them to sign an agreement which states that if elected, they would focus on resolving various civic issues including those of cleanliness and stray animals within a year or resign.

5: 52 am IST

₹15 crore unaccounted cash seized during campaign period

₹15 crore has been seized as unaccounted cash during the campaign period. Liquor worth ₹25 crore, drugs worth ₹7.48 crore, gold and silver worth ₹6.88 crore and vehicles worth ₹11.89 crore were also seized. Over 4,000 illegal arms were seized after the model code of conduct came into force last month.

5:47 am IST

13,182 booths identified as critical, 4,146 villages identified as vulnerable

Chief electoral officer Anand Kumar said 13,182 booths are being called “critical” and as many as 4,146 “vulnerable” villages have been identified. Central Reserve Police Force personnel will be stationed at 7,791 booths.

“Micro observers will be deployed at 4,982 booths, videographers at 3,948 and there will be webcasting from 3,138,” he said.

4:45 am IST

VVPAT machines being used in Rajasthan for the 1st time: CEC

”It is for the first time that VVPAT machines are being used in Rajasthan. More than two lakh electronic voting machines (EVMs) and verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines will be used in the elections,” chief electoral officer Anand Kumar said.

4:43 am IST

Election in Ramgarh constituency put off due to death of BSP candidate

The state assembly has 200 seats, but election in Alwar district’s Ramgarh constituency has been put off due to the death of Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Laxman Singh.

4:42 am IST

Heavy security deployment for polling day

2,274 candidates are contesting in Rajasthan which has 4.74 crore registered voters, election officials told news agency PTI. About 1.44 lakh security personnel have been deployed for polling day.

Rajasthan Director General of Police O P Galhotra said foolproof security arrangements are in place.