Congress gained a massive lead in Rajasthan on Tuesday and the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) trailed shortly after the voting of assembly elections began. 


COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Congress chief Sachin Pilot was leading in Tonk constituency, while BJP's Vasundhara Raje was leading from Jhalraptan. As per the latest trends, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot is also leading in Sardarpura. 


Congress' Krishna Poonia and CP Joshi were leading from Sudulpur and Nathdwara constituency.
 
A political party or bloc needs 101 seats to establish a majority in the Rajasthan state assembly.


Counting of votes has begun. Results and trends will be available soon. 


Rajasthan recorded a turnout of 74.21 per cent in the Assembly election 2018, around 1.02 percentage point less than a turnout of 75.23 per cent in 2013.


Top campaigners including Prime Minister Narendra and Congress president Rahul Gandhi had addressed 12 and 9 public meetings respectively in Rajasthan where assembly elections to 199 of the 200 seats were held on December 7. 


Contrary to the sea of crowd in the rallies, voting percentage in the respective areas was less. 


(Also check full list of sitting MLAs in Rajasthan.)


After Prime Minister's rallies, voting percentage increased only in Dausa (78.41 per cent in 2018 compared to 75.68 per cent in 2013) and Nagaur (73.53 per cent in 2018 compared to 72.03 per cent in 2013). Voting percentage in other areas, including Bhilwara, Bharatpur, Sikar or Hanumangarh where the prime minister held rallies remained less than the previous assembly election. 


The exit polls predicted that the opposition party may form a government in the result. Most of the exit polls predicted the Congress' return to power in Rajasthan.


It is a seen as a straight fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress for about 130 seats.


In other constituencies, groups like the Bahujan Samaj Party and rebels who are contesting against official party candidates may queer the pitch.


If the Congress wins, it is expected to pick between former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and state party president Sachin Pilot for the top post in the state.


In the current House, the BJP has 160 seats and the Congress 25.


In Tonk, Sachin Pilot and Rajasthan Transport Minister and BJP candidate Yoonus Khan are face to face. Khan is the only Muslim candidate fielded by his party.