Jaipur, Oct 28 Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat cast his vote in Jodhpur in Rajasthan, where the second phase of panchayati raj elections covering 22 districts was underway.
The voting began at 7 am for 352 wards of 22 zila parishads and 2,197 wards of 124 panchayat samitis. In some places, however, it was delayed as electronic voting machines (EVMs) malfunctioned, according to officials.
Till 1 pm, a voter turnout of 34.92 per cent was recorded. The turnout was 13.68 per cent till 10 am.
According to polling figures, Devla panchayat samiti in Udaipur district recorded the highest turnout of 52.52 per cent till 1 pm, followed by Beethnok in Bikaner at 47.42 per cent, Sulav in Udaipur at 46.19 per cent and Batadoo in Barmer at 45.39 per cent.
The lowest turnout of 25.79 per cent was recorded in Aspur panchayat samiti of Dungarpur district, followed by Gogunda in Udaipur at 26.89 per cent and Amber in Jaipur at 27.34 per cent.
In Jaipur district, Shahpura panchayat samiti recorded 37.03 per cent polling, Rampura Dabri 35.64 per cent, Jalsu 34.87 per cent, Amarsar 34.51 per cent and Amber 27.34 per cent.
Rajasthan minister Jhabar Singh Kharra voted at booth number 54 in Bharni village of Sikar district.
Some places saw polling getting delayed in the morning due to malfunctioning electronic voting machines (EVMs).
In Jodhpur’s Tinwari panchayat samiti, voting was affected at two booths, while polling began about 30 minutes late at two booths in Ajmer following EVM problems.
In Jhunjhunu district, an EVM developed a fault after the first vote was cast at booth number 71 in Muradpur village under Singhana panchayat samiti. Voting resumed after the machine was replaced.
In Sikar district, 95-year-old Mali Devi was brought by her family members to a polling station in Ganeshwar village of Neem Ka Thana panchayat samiti to cast her vote.
Each voter is casting two votes, one for a zila parishad member and another for a panchayat samiti member.
The remaining phases of the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections are scheduled for November 3 and 14.
(PTI News)
