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Balloting begins on dull note, Sonia Gandhi among early voters
New Delhi, Dec 01: Braving winter chill, voters tricked into polling stations this morning to cast ballot for assembly elections in Delhi, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, the last major exercise before next year`s Lok Sabha polls.
New Delhi, Dec 01: Braving winter chill, voters tricked into polling stations this morning to cast ballot for assembly elections in Delhi, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, the last major exercise before next year`s Lok Sabha polls.
Over four lakh police and para-military personnel were deployed in four states to ensure peaceful balloting which began at 8 am.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi was among the early voters in the National Capital where polling began on a dull note as the morning chill kept people indoors.
Over 5,000 candidates are trying their luck for 590 seats up for grabs in the four states.
Among those whose fate will be sealed today in electronic voting machines (EVMs) are Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit besides BJP`s stalwarts Uma Bharti, Madan Lal Khurana and Vasundhara Raje.
The maximum number of 2171 candidates are in the fray for 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, 1541 for 200-seat Rajasthan House, 819 for 90 seats in Chhattisgarh and 817 for 70 constituencies in Delhi.
The elections marks the culmination of an acrimonious fortnight-long campaign focusing among other things on the bribery-on-tapes scam involving BJP leader Dilip Singh Judeo.
As pre-poll surveys predict congress wins in three states, save Madhya Pradesh, the outcome of the polls, fought primarily on local issues, could determine the timing of Lok Sabha elections besides setting off fresh political alignments.
Balloting also began today for two assembly bypolls in Kerala and Gujarat.
The counting of votes for the four states and the two bypolls will be taken up on December 4 and all results are expected by the afternoon.
Bureau Report
Congress president Sonia Gandhi was among the early voters in the National Capital where polling began on a dull note as the morning chill kept people indoors.
Over 5,000 candidates are trying their luck for 590 seats up for grabs in the four states.
Among those whose fate will be sealed today in electronic voting machines (EVMs) are Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit besides BJP`s stalwarts Uma Bharti, Madan Lal Khurana and Vasundhara Raje.
The maximum number of 2171 candidates are in the fray for 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, 1541 for 200-seat Rajasthan House, 819 for 90 seats in Chhattisgarh and 817 for 70 constituencies in Delhi.
The elections marks the culmination of an acrimonious fortnight-long campaign focusing among other things on the bribery-on-tapes scam involving BJP leader Dilip Singh Judeo.
As pre-poll surveys predict congress wins in three states, save Madhya Pradesh, the outcome of the polls, fought primarily on local issues, could determine the timing of Lok Sabha elections besides setting off fresh political alignments.
Balloting also began today for two assembly bypolls in Kerala and Gujarat.
The counting of votes for the four states and the two bypolls will be taken up on December 4 and all results are expected by the afternoon.
Bureau Report