Civic polls: Campaigning ends in Raj

Campaigning for the November 22 polls in 46 civic bodies, including six municipal corporations, in Rajasthan came to a close this evening.
Barring Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, all BJP ministers and MLAs were actively involved in electioneering in their respective constituencies.
Rajasthan PCC President Sachin Pilot travelled over 3,000 km by road to address poll meetings in 20 districts.
Candidates also made last efforts to cover their entire ward area by meeting voters on streets, at their home and in markets in Jaipur where election will be held for the post of 91 ward councillors.
"Polling will be held from 7 AM to 6 PM in 1,681 wards of 46 civic bodies in which altogether 7,392 candidates are contesting," Commissioner of Rajasthan State Election Commission (RSEC) Ramlubhaya said.

Over 35,000 armed personnels of state police, Rajasthan Armed Constabulary and Home Guards would be deployed to ensure free and fair polls, Special Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) Navdeep Singh said.

Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) will be used in the polls and results will be announced on November 25.
Subsequently, the election of municipal chairman and mayors in six corporations will take place on November 26.
Six municipal corporations-- Jaipur, Kota, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Udaipur and Bharatpur, 18 municipal councils and 22 municipalities will go to polls after five years.
Over 63.09 lakh electors are eligible to cast their votes at 6,135 polling booths in 1,696 wards. Both Congress and BJP have fielded their candidates in almost every ward.

After withdrawal of nominations on November 15, nine candidates of the ruling BJP and six of opposition Congress were elected unopposed in civic polls.
While addressing Youth Congress at PCC headquarters, PCC President Sachin Pilot said there would be a big change in the civic poll outcome as youth got connected with the party and showed a very good response during campaigning in the state.
"Youth would definitely evaluate the performance of ruling BJP government led by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje while casting their votes in civic polls," Pilot said.