Poll pourri over verdict awaited

The fate of 42 candidates, who are in the fray in the bypolls, has been sealed with polling coming to a close at 6 pm on Monday. Counting of votes is slated to take place on February 1. 

Voting started on a dull note in the bypolls which are being viewed as a semi-final ahead of the Rajasthan Assembly elections later this year. An average turnout of 5.35 per cent was recorded in the first two hours of voting. In the early hours, Alwar recorded 5.42 per cent turnout and Ajmer saw 5.25 per cent voting while the turnout in Mandalgarh Assembly constituency was 6.42 per cent. 

Early morning voting sent worries among candidates and their polling agents. However,voting for bypolls gained momentum by noon. Alwar Lok Sabha constituency recorded 37.16 per cent voting, Ajmer Lok Sabha 36.54 per cent while the voter turnout in Mandalgarh Assembly constituency was 45.08 per cent (figures till noon). Voting gained momentum till 6 pm, ending at 78.78 per cent in Mandalgarh, 65.20 per cent; in Ajmer and 61.86 per cent in Alwar, according to the website of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).

Over 3.5 lakh new voters, mostly youngsters, have been added in the updated voters list compared to the 2014 general Lok Sabha election in the three seats. 

A bridegroom also reached with band baja in Ajmer’s Janakpur locality to cast hisvote. There were over two dozen reports of snags in EVM machines and VVPAT machines, which were replaced or repaired by the election officials, when informed. This troubled the voters who had formed long serpentine  queues. For instance, in Mandalgarh’s Hajivas and booth n0 83 in Ajmer’s Kishangarh, the EVM had proved faulty. 

The candidates also cast votes. Congress candidate Raghu Sharma and BJP’s Ram Swaroop Lamba used right of franchise in Sanwar village and booth no 242 respectively. 

With voting getting over, all eyes are now on Thursday when counting will take place. In Ajmer and Alwar, there is a direct contest between Lamba (BJP) and Sharma (Congress), Karan Singh Yadav (Congress) and Jaswant Singh (BJP). In Mandalgarh, the fight is triangular one between Shakti Singh Hada (BJP), Vivek Dhakad (Congress) and Gopal Malyiya, a rebel from Congress who is contesting as an independent.

Poll boycott & right of franchise

• Alwar’s Lamachpur and Ajmer’s Manda villages boycotted election and villagers refrained themselves from using right of franchise. The villagers were angry with the government machinery on certain local issues which provocked them not to take part in elections. It is not first time villagers have boycotted election in Rajasthan.
• A bridegroom also reached with band baja in Ajmer’s Janakpur locality to cast hisvote.