Brisk polling in Rajasthan

Balloting started on brisk note in Rajasthan's five Lok Sabha constituencies Thursday.

Rajasthan has 25 parliamentary constituencies, and in the second phase voting is being held in five constituencies of Bharatpur, Dausa, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Karauli-Dholpur and Alwar.

Long queues were seen since early morning as voters wanted to beat the heat in this desert state.

Union minister Jitendra Singh, who is contesting from Alwar constituency, was among the first to cast his vote.

"The polling has been peaceful so far and is expected to pick up later in the day," an election department official told IANS.

Polling of over 15.40 percent was reported from Dausa constituency while Karauli-Dholpur reported polling of only 13.23 percent till 9 a.m.

In 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the state had recorded over 48.46 percent of voting.

In the first phase April 17, voter turnout of around 63.75 percent was reported in 20 Lok Sabha constituencies.

Reports of problems in EVMs came in from Bharatpur, Karauli and Dausa districts, where the machines were repaired or changed.

"The voting began at 7 a.m. at over 9,110 polling stations spread in these five constituencies. We have made elaborate security arrangements for peaceful polls," said an election official here.

Over 2,660 booths have been identified as sensitive and over 45,000 security personnels have been deputed in these five constituencies.

Over eight million voters including 3.7 million women voters are expected to decide the fate of 81 candidates who are in the fray.

Maximum of 22 candidates are contesting from Tonk-Sawai Madhopur constituency and the lowest of 12 from Bharatpur Lok Sabha seat.

India's former cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin, union Minister's Namonarain Meena and Jitendra Singh of the Congress and Harish Meena, former director general of police, and Mahant Chandnath of the BJP, and Kirodi Lal Meena of National People's Party are some of the main contestants.

In 2009 elections, the Congress had won 20 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats, BJP four and independent one.