Rajasthan Assembly elections 2018 results live | Raje resigns, Congress two seats away from majority

The Congress is counting on the anti-incumbency factor to win in the State, with the ruling BJP facing a major challenge in retaining public support for its policies.

December 10, 2018 04:06 pm | Updated December 11, 2018 11:21 pm IST

Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot addressing a press conference in Jaipur on Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot addressing a press conference in Jaipur on Tuesday, December 11, 2018

The electoral fate of 2,274 candidates of the Rajasthan Assembly elections has been decided today.

The State went to the polls on December 7 for 199 out of total 200 seats and registered a polling percentage of 74%. The election in Alwar’s Ramgarh seat was postponed and polling will take place later due to the death of BSP candidate Laxman Singh.

The Congress counted on the anti-incumbency factor to win in the State, with the ruling BJP facing a major challenge in retaining public support for its policies.

 

In the 2013 Assembly elections, the BJP won 163 seats, the Congress 21, the BSP 3, the NPP 4 and independents and others 9 seats. After bypolls in the State, the BJP presently holds 160 seats, the Congress 25, the BSP 2 and the NPP 3 seats.

Mohammed Iqbal provides updates from Jaipur.

Here are the live updates:

10.55 pm

ECI figures at 10.53 p.m. shows the Congress winning in 99 seats, followed by the BJP in 73 and the BSP winning six seats. Other parties won 20 seats, and leading in one.

For the latest tally click here:

8.25 p.m.

 

Raje resigns

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has met Governor Kalyan Singh, and handed over her resignation.

ECI figures at 8.21 p.m. show the Congress in lead with 99 seats (78 won, 21 leading), followed by the BJP's 73 (66 won, 7 leading). The tally for others: BSP 6 (all won), CPI(M) 2 (both won), RLP 3 (2 won, 1 leading), Bhartiya Tribal Party 2 (both won), RLD 1 (won) and independents  13 (10 won, 3 leading).

 

6.45 p.m.

 

According to ECI figures at 6.38 p.m., the Congress is leading with 98 seats (56 won, 42 leading), followed by the BJP's 74 (38 won, 36 leading). The tally for others: BSP 6 (5 won, 1 leading), CPI(M) 2 (1 won, 1 leading), RLP 3 (1 won, 2 leading), Bhartiya Tribal Party 2 (both won), RLD 1 (won) and independents  13 (5 won, 9 leading).

 

6.25 p.m.

The rebel factor

Independents have won four seats and are leading in another nine seats in the Rajasthan Assembly Election 2018 (as of 6.15 pm). This marks a rise in number of independent winners. In the 2013 Assembly Elections, seven independents won.

The anti-incumbency factor seems clear, going by this trend. BJP had in 2013 won in 10 of the 13 seats where independents are leading/won in the current election. This means that for each of these 10 seats that the independents convert into a win, it will be a seat lost by BJP.

 

6.05 p.m.

Congress Legislature Party meeting to be held in Jaipur tomorrow at 11 a.m., announces Avinash Pande, AICC general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan. 

6 p.m.

 

According to ECI figures at 5.58 p.m., the Congress is leading with 98 seats (33 won, 65 leading), followed by the BJP's 73 (24 won, 49 leading). The tally for others: BSP 6 (4 won, 2 leading), CPI(M) 2 (1 won, 1 leading), RLP 3 (all leading), Bhartiya Tribal Party 2 (both won), and independents  13 (4 won, 9 leading).

 

5.25 pm

 

According to ECI figures at 5.25 p.m., the Congress is leading with 100 seats (22 won, 78 leading), followed by the BJP's 73 (14 won, 59 leading). The tally for others: BSP 6 (3 won, 3 leading), CPI(M) 2 (1 won, 1 leading), RLP 3 (all leading), RLD 1 (leading) Bhartiya Tribal Party 2 (both won), and independents  12 (3 won, 9 leading).

 

5.17 pm

RLD offers support for Congress

Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary has issued a letter stating RLD support for Congress in Rajasthan

Our correspondent Mohammed Iqbal reports that RLD is already an alliance partner of Congress in Rajasthan.

Congress gave five seats to alliance partners. The Bharatpur and Malpura seats were given to RLD as part of understanding with alliance partners.

Subhash Garg of RLD is lcurrently eading in Bharatpur.

4.40 pm

Rajasthan Minister loses to independent candidate

Rajasthan’s Gaupalan Minister Otaram has lost the Sirohi seat to independent candidate Sanyam Lodha with a margin of 10,253 votes, reports PTI . Mr. Lodha is a Congress rebel.

Water Resources Minister and BJP leader Rampratap has also lost. He lost the Hanumangarh seat to Congress candidate Vinod Kumar with a margin of 15,522 votes.

Agriculture Minister Prabhulal Saini also lost to Congress candidate Pramod Bhaya by a margin of 34,063 votes in Baran district’s Anta seat.

4:25 pm

Congress wins 5, leading in 98; BJP wins 4, leading in 64

The Congress is heading towards victory in Rajasthan where it has won five seats and leading on 98 seats while the ruling BJP has won four and leading on 64 seats out of the 199 seats which went to polls.

Congress candidates Johri Lal Meena (Rajgarh-Laxmangarh), Madan Prajapapat (Pachpadra), Zahida Khan (Kaman), Ramlal Jat (Mandal) and Prashant Bairwa (Niwai) won, while BJP’s Santosh (Anupgarh), Kaluram (Dag), Sama Ram Garaisa (Pindwara-Abu), Jagsi Ram (Reodar) won.

BSP’s Sandeep Kumar (Tijara) and Wajib Ali (Nagar) have also won.

The trend that BJP and Congress parties are voted to power alternately appears to continue in the State. — PTI

4:10 pm

Sachin Pilot wins the Tonk seat

Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Sachin Pilot has won the Tonk assembly constituency, defeating BJP’s only Muslim candidate in the state and Transport Minister Yunus Khan.

It was the first assembly elections for 41-year old Pilot, a two-time Member of Parliament, and he defeated Khan with a margin of 54,179 votes on the Muslim-dominated seat.

Mr. Pilot has announced that the Congress legislative party in Rajasthan will meet on Wednesday morning.

 

4.00 pm

The Election Commission of India reports that the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Bharatiya Tribal Party, the Janta Sena Rajasthan and the Rashtriya Lok Dal have all seats in the lead.

The CPI(M) and the BTP are leading in two seats apiece, while the JSP and the RLD are leading in one seat each.

3.40 pm

BSP wins two, leads in four

The Bahujan Samaj Party has opened its account in Rajasthan by winning two seats --  Tijara (Alwar district) and Nagar (Bharatpur district).

Sandeep Kumar won with a margin of 4457 votes in Tijara, while Wajib Ali won with a margin of 25467 votes in Nagar.

The party is also leading in four more seats -- Kishangarh Bas, Nadbai, Udaipurwati and Karauli.

3:15 pm

 

Zahida Khan of Congress has been elected from Kaman (Bharatpur district), defeating BJP's Jawahar Singh with a margin of 39,621 votes.

Madan Prajapat of Congress won Pachpadra (Barmer district), defeating BJP's Amara Ram with a margin of 2,395 votes. Mr. Pachpadra is the proposed site for an oil refinery, for which both Congress and BJP have been claiming credit.

Congress leader Ashok Gehlot is leading in Sardarpura constituency of Jodhpur with a margin of 37,470 after 15 out of total 18 rounds of counting.

3.00 pm

Results declared for six seats

The ECI has declared results for six seats.

BJP has won Pindwara-Abu, Reodar, Anupgarh and Dag, while the Congress has won Kaman and Pachpadra.

2.30 pm

"Clear indication of things to come"

Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot addressed media persons in Jaipur, saying, “This is a clear indication of things to come in 2019. The BJP made tall promises, but could not fulfil them. The ‘Achhe Din’ they spoke about never came."

Mr. Gehlot also credited Congress president Rahul Gandhi with the party’s good performance in all the five states, saying he raised issues concerning the public on which the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not have any answers.

Mr. Gehlot said the way Mr. Gandhi led the campaign in Gujarat, taking on PM Modi on his home turf, spoke a lot. He said the public was suffering under the BJP rule and Mr. Gandhi raised key issues concerning the people because of which Modi’s “graph came down“.

RPCC president Sachin Pilot said the Congress was marching towards victory in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, and the trend would continue in the future in the rest of India.

Congress workers and supporters celebrate the party's winning trends in the Rajasthan Assembly election, at the party office in Jaipur, on Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Congress workers and supporters celebrate the party's winning trends in the Rajasthan Assembly election, at the party office in Jaipur, on Tuesday, December 11, 2018

 

“We are moving towards a full majority and I am sure it will be clear once final numbers are in, but still we welcome all like-minded and anti-BJP parties to support us and we are in touch...I am certain that we will come to power in Rajasthan. I am hopeful that like minded parties against the BJP will come together,” he told reporters.

- PTI

2.00 pm

Congress crosses halfway mark

Congress crosses halfway mark, with the party now leading in 101 seats, while the BJP is leading in 71 seats and has won one seat.

With the tally of independents and smaller parties going up, their role in the formation of government will be important, writes Mohammed Iqbal. The Congress would like to bring the rebels back to its fold.

Like in 2008, the BSP MLAs may join Congress. The role of Ashok Gehlot in getting support of independents will be keenly watched.

1.00 pm

First result declared - BJP wins one seat

With counting reaching the halfway mark, results have started trickling in from the Election Commission of India.

Mohammed Iqbal reports that the first result has been declared in Rajasthan. Sama Ram Garasia of BJP has defeated Lala Ram of Congress with a margin of 26,974 votes from Pindwara-Abu constituency reserved for Scheduled Tribes.

In addition, BJP is leading in 76 seats.

Also read: Who are the key candidates in this election?

Congress is still in the lead, leading in 96 seats. Fourteen independents are now leading, up by one from the morning, while BSP and RLP are leading in three seats each. 

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is still leading in Jhalrapatan constituency with a margin of over 17,327 votes. Congress candidate and veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh’s son Manvendra Singh is trailing.

RPCC president Sachin Pilot and Rajasthan former chief minister Ashok Gehlot are leading in Tonk and Sardarpura seats, respectively.

Congress candidate and discus throw gold medalist in the 2010 commonwealth games Krishna Poonia is leading in Sadulpur constituency by 646 votes.

12 noon

RLP leads in four seats

The Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP), launched by independent MLA Hanuman Beniwal, has registered a lead in four seats in Rajasthan, reports Mohammed Iqbal .

Mr. Beniwal was earlier in BJP and had parted ways following differences with Vasundhara Raje. He then contested as an independent in 2013 from Khinwsar (Nagaur district) and won.

Mr. Beniwal is leading by a margin of 15,600 votes over Congress candidate Sawai Singh Chaudhary in Khinwsar.

The other three leading RLP candidates are:Ummeda Ram (Baytu - Barmer disrict), Pukhraj (Bhopalgarh - Jodhpur district) and Indira Devi (Merta - Nagaur district).

11.30 am

"A people's victory"

"Today's victory is a gift to Rahul Gandhi on the first anniversary of his appointment as the Congress president," says RPCC president Sachin Pilot.

"Initial trends have shown that Congress will get a clear majority and form the next government in Rajasthan. It is the people's victory and is the result of struggle of Congress workers during the last five years," he tells reporters in Jaipur.

Congress is winning not just in Rajasthan, but also in M.P. and Chhattisgarh, says Mr. Pilot.

On the issue of choice for the CM, Mr. Pilot says the decision will be taken by Congress MLAs and party president Rahul Gandhi.

 

11.15 am

On the matter of the CM

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tells mediapersons at his residence in Jaipur that Congress is going to form the government in Rajasthan.

Central observers are arriving in Jaipur today to meet the elected members, says Mr. Gehlot, adding that the Congress Legislature Party meeting is likely to be held tomorrow. When asked about the matter of picking a CM, Mr. Gehlot says Congress president Rahul Gandhi will have to be asked.

"The tradition in Rajasthan Congress has been to leave the decision for CM's appointment to the high command. Everything will happen smoothly," says Mr. Gehlot.

11 am

Independents in the fray

Independents in Rajasthan who are leading include veteran former Congress leaders Sanyam Lodha, Babulal Nagar and Mahadev Singh.

They contested from Sirohi, Dudu and Khandela, respectively, and are in a comfortable position.

Though they decided to contest as independent candidates after being denied tickets, Congress may try to bring them back in the party fold.

Meanwhile, Congress' Rameshwar Dudi, who was Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, trailing by over 4,000 votes in Bikaner's Nokha. He is considered one of the claimants to CM's post.

10.30 am

Congress leading in Rajasthan

Opposition Congress is leading in 92 seats in Rajasthan, according to information from the Rajasthan Chief Electoral Officer's official website .

BJP is leading in 72, while BSP and CPM are leading in three and two seats respectively. There are also 13 independent candidates in the lead.

Meanwhile, there seems to be a glitch in the Election Commission of India website, with the page last updated at 9.21 am.

Former Minister Ghanshyam Tiwari, who left BJP and launched Bharat Vahini Party, is trailing by 1,163 votes in Sanganer.

Sachin Pilot is leading by over 5,200 votes in Tonk after completion of second round of counting, reports Mohammed Iqbal .

Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria trailing by 1,154 votes in Udaipur. Congress candidate Girija Vyas, former chairperson of National Commission for Women, leading.

10.00 am

Jubilant mood at Congress HQ in Jaipur

The mood at the Congress headquarters in Jaipur seems jubilant, as party workers gather slowly at the premises, Mohammed Iqbal reports . PCC president Sachin Pilot, who is leading in his constituency Tonk, is monitoring results from his residence in Jaipur.

Congress Rajasthan spokesperson Satyendra Singh Raghav says the party workers had worked hard during the last five years by raising people's issues. "They countered attempts made by BJP leaders for religious polarisation. Congress is headed to victory," he says.

BJP Rajasthan spokesperson Anand Sharma however says that the lead for Congress has been depicted only in the initial rounds of counting and that trends will change during the day.

9.40 am

CM Vasundhara Raje leads, other Rajasthan ministers trail

CM Vasundhara Raje is leading in Jhalrapatan constituency with a margin of 4055 votes, reports PTI . Her rival Congress candidate Manvendra Singh is trailing.

Former CM and Congress candidate Ashok Gehlot is leading in Sardarpura.

State Assembly Speaker Kailash Meghwal is leading by 3,411 votes in Bhilwara’s Shahpura seat.

The ministers trailing are -- state Social Justice Minister Arun Chaturvedi (Civil Lines), Water Resources Minister Rampratap (Hanumangarh), Agriculture Minister Prabhu Lal Saini (Anta), UDH Minister Srichand Kriplani (Nimahera), Gaupalan Minster Otaram Devasi (Sirohi seat) and Health Minister Kalicharan (Malvia Nagar). Barmer MP Sonaram is also trailing.

Environment Minister Gajendra Singh and Cooperative Minister Ajay Singh are also trailing in Lohawat and Degana respectively.

Among the Congress candidates, former DGP Harish Meena is trailing in the Deoli-Uniara seat, while Commonwealth gold medallist Krishna Poonia leads in the Sadulpur constituency.

PCC president Sachin Pilot, up against BJP's only Muslim candidate in this election Yunus Khan, is leading in the key constituency of Tonk.

 

9 am

Congress leads in 7 seats, BJP in 3

The first trends have begun to roll in.

Congress is leading in seven seats, while the BJP is leading in three, according to the Election Commission of India. The Bharatiya Tribal Party is leading in one seat.

Congress leads in Begun, Chohtan, Dhod, Neem Ka Thana, Sadulpur and Pokhran, reports Mohammed Iqbal . BJP leads in Anupgarh, Raisingh Nagar and Reodar. The Bhartiya Tribal Party leads in Chorasi.

Pokhran, in Jaisalmer district, had reported the highest turnout of voters at 87.48%. It is known for the 1974 and 1998 nuclear tests.

8.30 am

Counting begins

Counting has begun in Rajasthan, with postal ballots. 

While we wait for trends, here are some important numbers:

Total number of candidates in Rajasthan: 2,274

BJP: 199

Congress: 194

BSP: 189

CPI(M): 28

CPI: 16

Aam Aadmi Party: 141

Independents: 830

Rashtriya Loktantrik Party: 58

Bharat Vahini Party: 62.

8 am

Key constituencies to be watched in Rajasthan

Some of the key constituencies to be watched in the State are Jhalrapatan , from where CM Vasundhara Raje is contesting, Sardarpura , where Congress leader Ashok Gehlot is the candidate, and Tonk , where PCC president Sachin Pilot is facing BJP's lone Muslim candidate, Yunus Khan, writes our correspondent Mohammed Iqbal .

Tonk is one of the most watched electoral contests in Rajasthan as the BJP has fielded its lone Muslim candidate and Minister, Yunus Khan, against Congress State president Sachin Pilot.

BJP's lone Muslim candidate and Minister, Yunus Khan

BJP's lone Muslim candidate and Minister, Yunus Khan

 

The town, about 80 km from Jaipur, has a large Muslim presence and Mr. Pilot was supposed to win easily. But the BJP has made a contest of it, bringing Mr. Khan from Didwana in Nagaur, something observers say is aimed at making a dent in the Congress’s Muslim votes.

CM Vasundhara Raje is pitted against Manvendra Singh of Congress, who was a sitting BJP MLA from Sheo (Barmer). He is the son of former BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh. He switched from BJP to Congress recently.

Sardarpura constituency, from where Gehlot is contesting, is in Jodhpur district.

7.45 am

Counting to take place at 35 centres

Nearly 20,000 government staff will be deployed for counting of votes for the Rajasthan Assembly elections tomorrow, reports PTI .

Counting will take place at 35 centres including two centres each in Jaipur and Jodhpur, Rajasthan Chief Election Officer Anand Kumar told reporters on Monday. The Chief Election Office (CEO) has completed all preparations ahead of counting of votes on Tuesday for the polls, he said.

Mr. Kumar said ample security arrangements had been made at the counting centres and nearby locations, with a three-layered security in place.

The counting process will start with postal ballots and then EVMs. Voting trends and result will be telecast at public places for the first time in the state through 350 LED screens, he added.

In the 2013 assembly election, BJP had won 163 seats, Congress 21, BSP 3, NPP 4 and independents and others 9 seats. After bypolls in the State, BJP presently holds 160 seats, Congress 25, BSP 2 and NPP 3 seats.

7.30 am

Lower voting percentage this time around

Rajasthan witnessed over one per cent lower voter turnout in Friday's assembly poll as compared to the previous assembly election despite marathon election rallies by star campaigners of both the BJP and the Congress, PTI reported earlier this week .

As per the Chief Election Office, voter turnout in 2018 assembly election was recorded at 74.12% compared to 75.23% in 2013 despite its efforts to create awareness among voters through various means.

The department was expecting a surge in voter turnout this election considering a rise of 20 lakh new youth voters in state electoral rolls.

Rajasthan Chief Election Officer Anand Kumar had said he had expected a better poll percentage.

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.

7.15 am

Exit polls predict Congress win

Exit polls have predicted a victory for the Congress . India Today-Axis My India gave the Congress 119-141 and the BJP 55-72. News Nation saw a tighter contest, with the Congress getting 99-103 out of 200 seats and the BJP 89-93.

First India News Rajasthan gave the Congress 110-115 and the BJP 65-70. India TV-CNX gave the Congress barely a majority at 100-110 and 80-90 to the BJP.

(With inputs from agencies)

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