Jaipur: Amid unprecedented security, voting will be held tomorrow for 20 out of 25 seats in Rajasthan where 239 contestants are in fray, including 13 sitting MPs and expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh.
Over 3.48 crore people, including 1.65 crore women, are eligible to vote in the election for which 27,664 polling stations have been set up. 5,942 of them have been designated “critical”, a state electoral office spokesman said today.
Voting will be held from 7 AM to 6 PM with webcasting at most places, the spokesman said, adding Rajasthan would witness a highest ever deployment of security personnel in this election.
Around 120 companies (100 personnel each) of central paramilitary forces (CPMF) and nearly 76,000 state police personnel would be deployed to maintain law and order during the two phases elections.
BJP and Congress parties have fielded twenty candidates each, AAP 19, BSP 18, CPM and CPI three each and NCP one. The candidates also include 88 Independents. Among the candidates are 10 sitting MPs of Congress and three of BJP.
Congress and BJP are in a direct fight on 12 seats which include Jaipur, Ajmer, Banswara, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Jhalawar, Chittorgarh, Jodhpur, Pali, Rajsamand, Udaipur and Kota.
A triangular contest could be witnessed in Barmer, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Ganganangar, Jalore, Nagaur, Sikar, with Congress and BJP candidates facing challenge from rebels candidates, BSP, Rajasthan Loktantrik Party (a joint front of five national parties), AAP or Independents. Barmer is in limelight with rebel BJP leader Jaswant Singh entering the contest as an Independent against BJP's Colonel Sona Ram and Congress' sitting MP Harish Choudhary.
Ram was earlier with Congress. Jaswant had raised the banner of revolt after he was denied ticket and was expelled from BJP.
Jaswant's son Manvendra was also suspended from the state BJP and removed from the national executive for anti-party activities.
