Over 65% polling was registered in the by-elections to Vallabhnagar and Dhariawad Assembly seats in Rajasthan on Saturday. The voting was peaceful in both the constituencies, falling in Udaipur division, where a close fight and triangular contest was witnessed because of the Congress and BJP candidates facing a strong challenge from others.
Vallabhnagar reported 65.39% voting till 5:00 p.m., while Dhariawad reported 64.95% polling, according to the State's Chief Electoral Officer. Nine candidates were in the fray for the Vallabhnagar seat and seven for Dhariawad, which is reserved for Scheduled Tribes. The counting of votes will take place on November 2.
A total of 638 polling booths were established in the two constituencies, and 119 of them were declared sensitive. The election staff had a verbal duel with the workers of political parties at some polling stations on the issue of setting up of their booths at a distance of at least 200 metres.
Pradesh Congress Committee's spokesperson and Transport Minister Pratap Singh Khachariawas said the voters had extended support to the State government's welfare measures during the polling, while BJP State president Satish Poonia said the party's candidates at both the seats were strong and had committed themselves to serving the people.
The Congress has fielded deceased MLA Gajendra Singh Shaktawat's wife Preeti Shaktawat in Vallabhnagar and former MLA Nagraj Meena in Dhariawad. Opposition BJP's candidate Himmat Singh Jhala in Vallabhnagar faces a challenge from party rebel Udai Lal Dangi, who contested on the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party's ticket. In Dhariawad, tribal youth Thawarchand Damor, contesting as an Independent, is likely to affect the prospects of BJP candidate Khet Singh Meena.
Though the results of bypolls will not affect the State government's stability, as the ruling Congress has 106 MLAs in the 200-member Assembly, the outcome will send across a message about the government's performance, especially in the midst of infighting between the rival camps led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot.
Meanwhile, the Congress candidates were elected Zila Pramukhs in Alwar and Dholpur districts on Saturday following the ruling party's victory in the panchayat body polls in the two districts on Friday. The Congress had won the majority of Zila Parishad and panchayat samiti seats, for which the elections were held in three phases.
Congress candidate Balbir Singh was elected Zila Pramukh in Alwar and Bhagwan Devi in Dholpur. Of the 49 seats of Zila Parishad members in Alwar, Congress won 25 and the Opposition BJP 20. In Dholpur, Congress won 17 of the total of 23 seats, while BJP won six. The Congress also registered victory at 208 of the 492 panchayat samiti seats in the two districts.
