National Desk, 25th November: Assembly elections are in full swing in Rajasthan, marking a high-stakes battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. With 199 seats up for grabs, both parties are vying for supremacy in the state. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, after casting his vote, expressed confidence in the Congress retaining power, dismissing BJP’s claims of a wave in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The voter turnout recorded till 1 pm is 40.27 per cent, as per the Election Commission of India. Prominent leaders, including Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, and BJP’s Vasundhara Raje, have already exercised their voting rights. Gehlot criticized the BJP’s statements, asserting that these are assembly polls, not “Modi ji’s elections.”
While casting his vote, Gehlot stated, “There is no determination in their statements. They will disappear after the polls, but we will stay here… They (BJP) will become invisible after November 2. They will resurface again after five years.”
Sachin Pilot, Congress’s Tonk candidate, praised the “robust voting” in the state, citing the need for change after a decade of BJP rule at the Centre.
The BJP, aiming to regain power, faces internal tensions with former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and her loyalists, who demand her declaration as the chief ministerial candidate. BJP leader Alka Gurjar emphasized the fight for “good governance” and accused the Congress-led government of corruption.
Both parties have presented manifestos outlining various welfare measures. The Congress focuses on the “seven guarantees,” including a caste survey and Rs 10,000 annual honorariums for woman heads of families. The BJP’s manifesto includes measures for farmers, women, and students, such as increased MSP for wheat and savings bonds for families with daughters.
Amid the elections, a fight erupted outside a polling booth in Churu, and a polling agent died in Pali district while on duty. Rajasthan, with 200 assemblies, will see polling in 199 seats, as the election in Karanpur constituency was adjourned due to the death of the Congress candidate.
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