Jaipur, April 19 (UNI) Around 52.43 percent of the more than 2.53 crore voters exercised their democratic rights across 12 parliamentary constituencies in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan on Friday, poll officials said here.
It may be noted that stakes are high for both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the main opposition party Congress in the state. While BJP, which won 24 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 general election, is trying to hold its ground firmly, Congress, which failed to win even a single seat last time despite being in power, is desperate to make a comeback specially after its debacle in the assembly elections held last year.
As per the data of the Election Commission, the maximum 60.79 percent polling was recorded in Ganganagar, Jjunjhunu seat witnessed the lowest turnout of 44.97 percent.
Among other seats 54.13 percent votes were polled in Alwar, 46.7 in Bharatpur, 49.89 percent in Bikaner, 59.45 percent in Churu, 45.63 in Dausa, 57.38 percent in Jaipur, 51.82 percent in Jaipur rural, 47.18 percent in Karauli-Dholpur, 56.89 percent in Nagaur and 50.90 percent in Sikar.
The voting during the day sealed the fate of several stalwarts, from both BJP and Congress.
In the Bikaner seat, Union Minister and sitting MP Arjun Ram Meghwal is being challenged by Congress candidate and former minister in Rajasthan government Govind Ram Meghwal.
Similarly, in Alwar, another minister in the Modi government and BJP candidate Bhupender Yadav is being challenged by sitting MLA and Congress candidate Lalit Yadav.
An interesting contest is being witnessed in Churu where Congress candidate and sitting MP Rahul Kaswan is locked in a battle with BJP candidate and Paralympic Games gold winner Devendra Jhajharia.
Two-time MP Rahul Kaswan, who won the last general elections from Churu as BJP candidate in 2019, left the party after being denied a ticket and joined Congress. Importantly, Churu is considered to be a BJP bastion as the party has never lost election on this seat since 1999.
In Ganganagar Congress candidate Kuldeep Indora is being challenged by BJP nominee Priyanka Balan Meghwal. While Indora is an experienced leader and has contested assembly elections twice, his opponent Priyanka Balan is making a debut in electoral politics.
On the Jhunjhunu seat former minister and Congress candidate Brijendra Singh Ola is facing competition from BJP nominee and former MLA Shubhkaran Chaudhary.
In Sikar, former MLA and Marxist Communist Party (CPM) candidate Amraram Chaudhary threw a challenge to two-time MP and BJP nominee Sumedhanand Saraswati. Sikar is also considered a BJP stronghold.
It may be noted that polling was held at 24,370 polling booths, including 23,651 main polling stations and 719 auxiliary polling stations. More than 2,53 crore electorates, including 1.33 crore males and 1.20 crore females were eligible to cast their votes. Besides, there were 1,14,690 service voters.
Officials said that to ensure free and fair elections 76,962 security personnel were on poll duty to ensure peaceful voting. Along with Rajasthan Police personnel, Home Guards, Forest Guards and RAC jawans were deployed.
Besides, 175 companies of Central Police Forces were positioned to assist in law and order and security during voting. These companies were deployed in sensitive areas. Flying squads, SST teams were also deployed in every Lok Sabha constituency for intensive checking and monitoring on the polling day. UNI AB SSP