Jaipur (Rajasthan): The electoral fate of 9,930 candidates was sealed as polling for 90 urban local bodies in 20 districts of Rajasthan was held on Thursday.
Till 5 pm, a total voter turnout of 75.35 per cent was recorded in all the urban bodies.
Polling was held in local bodies in Ajmer, Banswara, Bikaner, Bhilwara, Bundi, Pratapgarh, Chittorgarh, Churu, Dungarpur, Hanumangarh, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jhalawar, Jhunjhunu, Nagaur, Pali, Rajsamand, Sikar, Tonk and Udaipur districts.
While the queues outside polling booths were shorter early in the morning possibly due to the cold, the turnout continued to steadily increase as the day progressed.
Polling was conducted at a total of 5,253 voting centres spread across 3,035 wards.
A total of 8,328 electronic voting machines (EVMs) were used for the polls.
Many who were still in queues as the clock struck five were also allowed to exercise their franchise.
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Voting remained largely peaceful barring a few minor altercations between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress candidates over allegations of election fraud. Such altercations were reported from Pratapgarh, Ajmer, Bundi, and a few other places.
While a Congress candidate reportedly slapped the rival BJP candidate over allegations of election fraud in Bundi, a video of an independent candidate being thrashed in Ajmer went viral on social media.
Meanwhile, the state election machinery is busy preparing for the counting of votes, which will take place on January 31.
Top leaders of the BJP and Congress are currently busy holding discussions after the culmination of polling. The elections hold massive importance for both the parties, with the Congress aiming to repeat its good show, while the BJP tries to improve its performance.
