As the polling for 199 Assembly constituencies unfolds in Rajasthan, Union Jal Shakti Minister and prominent BJP leader, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, made his way to the designated polling center in Jodhpur on Saturday to exercise his right to vote.
Addressing the media after casting his vote, Shekhawat, also a Lok Sabha member from Jodhpur, expressed optimism about the BJP making a comeback in Rajasthan. He highlighted the challenges faced by the people under the Congress government’s tenure, emphasizing issues related to women’s treatment, exam paper leaks, corruption, and governance questions.
Accompanied by his wife and daughter, the Union Minister noted that while the overall voting percentage in the state has steadily increased since independence, there is room for further improvement. He urged citizens to actively participate in the democratic process and encouraged the media to advocate for maximum voter turnout.
In the Jodhpur assembly constituency, the BJP has fielded Atul Bhansali, who is contesting against Manisha Panwar of the Congress.
Polling for 199 out of the 200 assembly seats commenced at 7 am on Saturday, following extensive campaigning by major political parties, including the ruling Congress and the BJP. However, voting in the Karanpur constituency was adjourned due to the unfortunate demise of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.
Voters, lining up early outside polling booths, have the opportunity to cast their votes until 6 pm. Stringent security measures have been put in place to ensure a peaceful and fair electoral process.
The Congress, aiming for another term, faces competition from the BJP, which aspires to replace the Ashok Gehlot-led government. The BJP is banking on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in its bid for electoral success.
Vote counting is scheduled for December 3, with a total of 5,26,90,146 voters across 51,890 polling stations determining the fate of candidates. The high-voltage campaign concluded on Thursday, targeting a significant voter turnout, particularly among the 18-30 age group, where 1,70,99,334 voters will participate, including 22,61,008 first-time voters aged 18-19.
To ensure a secure voting environment, 1,02,290 security personnel, including police and home guard personnel, have been deployed, along with 700 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
In the 2018 polls, the Congress secured 99 seats, closely followed by the BJP with 73 seats. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot assumed office with the support of BSP MLAs and Independents.
