- By Vivek Raj
- Fri, 05 Jan 2024 08:14 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Voting for the Karanpur Assembly seat in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district started at 7 am on Friday. Surendra Pal Singh TT, the BJP nominee from the seat, has already been sworn in as a minister in the newly-formed state cabinet.
District Collector Anshdeep confirmed the commencement of polling, which will continue until 6 pm. Twelve candidates are competing for the seat, which saw a deferred election following the demise of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.
"The polling in Karanpur began at 7 am. The polling will be held till 6 pm," District Collector Anshdeep said.
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The Congress has nominated Mr. Koonar's son, Rupinder Singh, as their candidate. Surendra Pal Singh TT, previously a state minister, was sworn in on December 30 last year, sparking opposition from the Congress.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot criticised the swearing-in as a violation of the Model Code of Conduct, alleging an attempt to influence voters in the constituency.
According to the rules, non-legislators can be inducted as ministers only with the condition that they get elected within six months.
The results of the polls are scheduled to be declared on January 8. The constituency has 2.4 lakh voters, including 1,25,850 men, 1,14,966 women, and 10 transgender individuals, along with 180 service voters.
The polling for 199 of the 200 Assembly seats in Rajasthan took place on November 25, 2023, with the BJP securing victory in 115 seats compared to the Congress's 69 seats when results were announced on December 3.
In the recently held assembly elections in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana- the BJP secured the Hindi heartland by being victorious in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. Now, BJP and INDIA bloc parties are gearing up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
