Lok Sabha elections: Voting in Rajasthan concludes with 64% in phase 2; overall turnout at 61.60%

The last phase of polling, however, improved the overall voting turnout as the first phase on April 19 had recorded 57.87% voting for 12 seats.

This year, the highest voting percentage of 73.68% has been recorded in the Barmer Lok Sabha constituency. Also, in the by-election held in Bagidora Assembly constituency, about 77% voting was recorded.

The lowest turnout was recorded in Tonk – Sawai Madhopur seat with 56%, marginally less than the 56.8% in Pali.

Voting started at 7 am on Friday in the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies – Barmer, Jodhpur, Jalore, Chittorgarh, Banswara, Kota, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran – and continued till 6 pm. People standing in queue inside the booth were allowed to vote beyond the deadline.
Polling was largely peaceful except for minor incidents. In Barmer constituency, supporters of independent candidate Ravindra Singh Bhati and Congress candidate Ummeda Ram Beniwal clashed with each other. During this, voting was halted for around 30 minutes.

Congress MLA Harish Chaudhary, who reached the spot, alleged that the party agent was beaten up and chased away from the booth. Later, Chaudhary reached the district headquarters Information and Public Relations office and sat on a dharna with the agent. After about 15 minutes, the district election officer calmed him down.

Independent candidate Bhati earlier in the day alleged on social media that tape was being pasted over his name on EVMs. The Congress candidate had alleged that Bhati’s supporters were capturing booths.

CEO Praveen Gupta earlier said that adequate arrangements have been made for free, fair and transparent elections. A total of 82,487 security personnel were deployed to conduct peaceful polling. These include Rajasthan Police personnel as well as Home Guards, Forest Guards and RAC jawans. 175 companies of central police forces assisted in maintaining law and order and security during the polling.

About 28,758 booths were set up in these 13 Lok Sabha constituencies, for 2.80 crore voters to exercise their franchise and decide the electoral fate of 152 candidates. Congress, which could not win a single seat in the last two Lok Sabha elections (2014 and 2019), is trying to break into the stronghold of the BJP this time. Out of the 13 seats in the second phase, 6 are considered constituencies with tight contests. The seats are Barmer-Jaisalmer, Jalore-Sirohi, Banswara, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran.