In Rajasthan, the first phase of Lok Sabha elections saw a turnout of 10.67% in the initial two hours of polling. About 25.4 million voters are eligible to cast their votes across 23,000 polling booths for 114 candidates contesting in 12 out of the 25 seats. This includes areas like Churu, Nagaur, Ganganagar, Jhunjhunu, Bikaner, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, and Dausa.
Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari was among the early voters. Ganganagar led with a 14.14% turnout, followed by Alwar at 12.03%. However, Dausa recorded the lowest turnout at 9.70%. The voting, which began at 7 am, is set to continue until 6 pm.
ALSO READ: BJP's twelfth list: Diverse candidates for Lok Sabha elections
To ensure smooth conduct, around 75,000 police personnel have been deployed, with 10,000 booths marked as sensitive. These security measures aim to facilitate a fair and secure electoral process.
In the previous Lok Sabha elections of 2014 and 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dominated Rajasthan, winning all 25 seats in 2014 and 24 seats in 2019. The Rashtriya Loktantrik Party secured one seat in the 2019 elections. This historical context sets the stage for keen observation of the current electoral dynamics.
ALSO READ: Madhya Pradesh Lok Sabha Elections Phase 1: Constituency and Candidate lineup unveiled
In essence, the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan witnessed a modest turnout in its initial hours, with notable variations across different regions. The significant deployment of security personnel underscores the importance of maintaining law and order during the polling process. As the electoral exercise progresses, all eyes remain on the outcome, especially in light of past election results that have favored the BJP in the state.