Voting on seven Assembly seats in Rajasthan started from 7 A.M. on Wednesday and will continue till 6 P.M. during the bye-elections being held here in Dausa, Ramgarh, Deoli Uniara, Chorasi, Jhunjhunu, Salumber and Khinvsar constituencies in the state.
Over 19 lakh voters will cast their votes in these elections today.
Tight security arrangements have also been made for free, fair, safe, fear and temptation-free voting in all seven Assembly constituencies, said Chief Electoral Officer Naveen Mahajan.
Mahajan informed that keeping in view the sensitivity of the election, arrangements for live webcasting have been made inside 1,170 centres out of the total 1,915 polling stations in all seven Assembly constituencies, while considering the secrecy of voting.
In some polling premises, where there are three or more polling stations, cameras have also been installed outside the booth.
This will also help keep an eye on the queues of voters and the law and order situation.
He emphasised on the need for analysing the webcast live feed in a timely manner and making arrangements for positive action on it.
He also ordered for effective implementation of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) directed for the local officials and to take quick, corrective action as per need.
The Chief Election Officer further directed to ensure complete compliance of the action plan prepared to make the voting process eco-friendly during the Assembly bye-election in the state.
In this sequence, paper packets and plates for food and snacks will be provided at polling centres and EVM storage centres, and water from pitchers instead of plastic bottles will be provided for drinking.
Mahajan said that there is a need to be strict and quick in seizing illegal cash, liquor, narcotics and freebies on polling day.
He directed the state police, Excise and Income Tax officials, other enforcement agencies including flying squads (FS) and static surveillance teams (SST) to work more actively and vigilantly in order to prevent influencing of elections.
He said that more vigilance should be maintained at the check posts in border areas with other states and neighbouring districts under the effect of election code of conduct, so that any external interference in the conduct of elections can be prevented.
It needs to be mentioned here that bypolls were necessitated on these seven seats as five MLAs were elected as MPs while two MLAs passed away.
Hanuman Beniwal, MLA from Khivsar, was elected as MP from Nagaur thereby leaving the seat vacant, similarly, Rajkumar Roat from Charasi was elected as MP, Brijendra Ola from Jhunjhunu and Murarilal Meena from Dausa were elected as MPs due to which the Assembly seats were left vacant.
Similarly, Amritlal Meena from Salumber and Zubair Khan passed away due to which these seats were left vacant.
While Salumber had a BJP MLA, Ramgarh had elected a Congress MLA.
Both parties have played emotional cards here and have fielded family members.
While the BJP fielded Amritlal Meena's wife from Salumber, the Congress has fielded Zubair Khan's son, Aryan Zubair Khan to get sympathy votes.
16 killed in Pahalgam terror attack, Home Minister chairs security review meeting, security operations launched
At least 16 tourists, including two foreigners, were killed and 20 other tourists & locals injured in a terror attack in Pahalgam hill station in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district on Tuesday, even as Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Srinagar to chair an urgent review meeting
Pawan Khera condemns Pahalgam terror attack, urges govt to call all-party meeting
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera strongly condemned the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and called on the government to take immediate action.
‘We share grief of families’: Maha CM condemns Pahalgam cowardly attack
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis strongly condemned the cowardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam. He said that his government is in touch with the Jammu and Kashmir administration to get updates about tourists from the state injured in the attack.
'Go tell this to Modi', attacker told me after killing my husband: Pahalgam attack survivor shares story
Pallavi, the tourist who lost her husband Manjunath in the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir, shared her harrowing experience on Tuesday.
QR codes for Flora launched to help students learn more about biodiversity
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Tuesday launched a QR code for Flora, which is designed to provide detailed information about each plant, helping students learn more about biodiversity and promoting awareness about ecological conservation.
MP Biplab Kumar Deb meets Ashwini Vaishnaw over enhancing railway connectivity in Tripura
MP for West Tripura parliamentary constituency Biplab Kumar Deb on Tuesday met the Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishaw in Delhi and discussed the issues related to enhancing the railway connectivity in Tripura.
Youth Cong protests over fire service recruitment cancellation
A protest led by the Youth Congress turned tense on Monday as party members clashed with police over the recent cancellation of the recruitment process for fireman and driver posts under the Tripura Fire Service.
Five human traffickers arrested in Tripura
In a significant crackdown on human trafficking, the Government Railway Police (GRP), in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) and Tripura Police, arrested five alleged human traffickers from three localities in West Tripura district early Monday morning.