EVM malfunctions, voter-list discrepancies and sporadic confrontations were reported from several parts of Rajasthan on Friday as voting continued in the second and final phase of the urban local body elections. The state recorded a turnout of 57.38 per cent till 3 pm, with more than 50.28 lakh of the 87.63 lakh eligible voters casting their ballots, according to the Rajasthan Election Commission.
Polling began at 7 am across 147 urban local bodies and was scheduled to continue until 6 pm, with 18,266 candidates in the fray. Among the six municipal corporations voting in this phase, Jodhpur recorded the highest turnout till 3 pm at 56.42 per cent, followed by Pali at 56.09 per cent, Udaipur at 52.13 per cent, Kota at 51 per cent, Jaipur at 48.58 per cent and Ajmer at 48.48 per cent. Smaller municipalities witnessed significantly higher participation, with Dhorimanna in Balotra recording 85.53 per cent and Barodamev in Alwar 84.90 per cent.
EVM glitches disrupt polling
Technical problems with Electronic Voting Machines were reported from polling stations in Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Kota, Pushkar and some other areas. In Kota, voting at booth number 2 in Ward 22 was temporarily disrupted after an EVM malfunctioned. Several voters in blocks 3 and 3A of Ward 3 also reportedly faced difficulties after their names did not match entries on the Booth Level Officer’s list. Central election observer Jugal Kishore Meena and Education Minister and local MLA Madan Dilawar visited the area to examine the complaints.
Lok Sabha Speaker and Kota-Bundi MP Om Birla cast his vote at Shakti Nagar in Kota and urged citizens to participate in large numbers. He said greater public participation strengthened democracy and made democratic institutions more accountable and responsive to citizens.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma voted with his family at the Navodaya Teachers Training College near the NWR office in Jaipur’s Gator-Jagatpura area. Sharma described voting as not merely a right but a responsibility towards democracy and appealed to people to turn out in large numbers.
Gehlot targets BJP after voting
Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot voted with his wife Sunita Gehlot, son Vaibhav Gehlot and daughter-in-law Himanshi Gehlot at a polling station in Jodhpur’s Mahamandir area. After voting, Gehlot attacked the BJP government, alleging that forces were attempting to weaken the Constitution and calling on voters to strengthen it. He also claimed that the situation in Rajasthan was “very serious” and accused the state government of failing to deliver during its tenure.
The BJP subsequently lodged a complaint with the Jodhpur district election officer alleging a violation of the model code of conduct at the polling station where Gehlot voted. The complaint followed an incident in which a person at the polling station touched Gehlot’s feet. An inquiry, however, found that the individual was not a member of the polling team. Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore cast his vote in Sumerpur in Pali district.
Bogus-voting allegations in Jaipur
Tensions were reported at a polling station in Jaipur’s Ward 114 after supporters of an Independent candidate objected to the presence of a Congress candidate inside the polling station. Police intervened and brought the situation under control.
At booth number 23 in Ward 62, allegations of bogus voting triggered another protest. A Congress candidate and three Independent candidates submitted a complaint to the sector magistrate, alleging that around 150 bogus votes had been cast at the booth.
Violence was also reported from Chidawa in Jhunjhunu district, where supporters of two candidates clashed at a polling booth in Ward 26. The son of BJP candidate Aslam suffered a head injury, with Aslam alleging that supporters of an Independent candidate assaulted his son and others. Police intervened to restore order.
Independent candidate Ashok Sharma had also allegedly been attacked ahead of polling in Chidawa municipality. Sharma claimed that three motorcycle-borne men assaulted him and injured him on the head. Police were examining the incident.
309 civic bodies voting in two phases
Former minister and BJP leader Anita Bhadel was among the early voters in Ajmer and expressed confidence that her party would perform well. In Lalsot in Dausa district, a 70-year-old woman from Ward 13 arrived at a polling station in an ambulance and cast her vote on a stretcher despite being unwell.
The six municipal corporations voting in the second phase are Jaipur, Ajmer, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur and Pali. Jaipur Municipal Corporation is the largest civic body in the phase, with 150 wards, around 24.33 lakh voters and 2,256 polling booths. A total of 723 candidates are contesting there.
The first phase, covering 162 urban local bodies, was held on September 9 and registered a turnout of 76.41 per cent. Elections to Rajasthan’s 309 urban local bodies are being conducted in two phases, with counting for councillor posts scheduled for September 14.
Mayors and chairpersons will be elected on September 21, followed by elections for deputy mayors, deputy chairpersons and municipal vice-presidents on September 22.