Polling for the second and final phase of urban local body elections in Rajasthan on Friday was affected by Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) malfunctions, discrepancies in voter lists and a few isolated disruptions, officials said. Voter turnout across the six municipal corporations ranged from 48.48 per cent to 56.42 per cent by mid‑afternoon, with Jodhpur recording the highest participation.
Where turnout stood
Polling began at 7.00 am for 147 urban local bodies. Turnout reported by 3.00 pm in the six municipal corporations voting on Friday: Jodhpur 56.42%, Pali 56.09%, Udaipur 52.13%, Kota 51%, Jaipur 48.58%, and Ajmer 48.48%.
| Municipal Corporation | Turnout (by 3 pm) |
|---|---|
| Jodhpur | 56.42% |
| Pali | 56.09% |
| Udaipur | 52.13% |
| Kota | 51% |
| Jaipur | 48.58% |
| Ajmer | 48.48% |
Nature of complaints and responses
Election officers confirmed instances of EVM malfunctions at booths in Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Kota and Pushkar. In Kota, polling at booth number 2 in Ward 22 was briefly disrupted due to a malfunctioning EVM. Election staff attended to the machine and polling resumed, officials said.
Voters also faced problems because of name mismatches between the voter and the booth‑level officer’s (BLO) list in certain polling segments. Blocks 3 and 3A of Ward 3 in Kota were specifically mentioned as having such discrepancies, leading to delays and verification procedures at those booths.
Central election observer Jugal Kishore Meena and state education minister and local MLA Madan Dilawar visited affected booths to address complaints and oversee remedial steps.
Political leaders at the booths
Om Birla, Lok Sabha Speaker and Kota‑Bundi MP, cast his vote at a Shakti Nagar booth in Kota and urged citizens to turn out in large numbers. Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot voted in Jodhpur’s Mahamandir area with family and, after voting, criticised the BJP government.
“Some forces are trying to weaken the Constitution. We need to strengthen it further... people should teach them a lesson,” Gehlot said after voting.
The BJP subsequently lodged a complaint alleging that the model code of conduct was violated at the polling station where Gehlot voted, party sources said. In Jaipur’s Ward 114, a dispute erupted when supporters of an Independent candidate objected to the presence of a Congress candidate; police intervened and restored order.
Protests and administrative action
Separate protests over alleged bogus voting were reported at booth number 23 in Ward 62 of Jaipur. Law enforcement intervened to contain tensions and maintain the flow of polling. Election officials emphasised that complaints were being recorded and addressed at the level of returning officers and observers.
- Complaints of EVM malfunction reported in Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Kota and Pushkar.
- Name‑mismatch issues affected voters in parts of Kota’s Ward 3.
- Senior leaders, including the Lok Sabha Speaker and a former chief minister, voted amid heightened scrutiny.
Implications and context
Urban local body elections are being closely watched in Rajasthan as a barometer ahead of the next Assembly elections. Party strategists regard municipal outcomes as indicative of grassroots strength and organisational reach. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has expressed confidence of good performance, while the Congress views successful outings as morale‑boosting for its cadre.
Officials reiterated standard election procedures for resolving technical glitches and identity mismatches, including replacement of EVMs where required and verification of voter identity through accepted documents and electoral rolls. Returning officers and central observers were reported to be monitoring affected booths to ensure continuity of polling.
Polling continued through the day and election authorities said they would compile and announce final turnout and incident reports after the close of voting and formal reconciliation of records.
Meera Rathore is the Rajasthan correspondent reporting on civic affairs and elections.
