Vote counting for the by-election in Rajasthan’s Anta assembly constituency will take place on Friday amid tight security and high public interest. The seat, vacant after the disqualification of the BJP MLA, saw record turnout and a three-way contest among major and independent candidates.
High turnout raises stakes in Anta contest
In the by-election held on Tuesday in the Anta constituency of Baran district, a strong voter turnout of about 80.21 % was recorded among the 2,28,264 registered voters, indicating heightened public engagement. (MillenniumPost) The constituency has 1,16,783 male and 1,11,477 female electors, and voters cast ballots at 268 polling stations.
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The bypoll became necessary after sitting BJP MLA Kanwar Lal Meena was disqualified following his conviction in a criminal case, as per a ToI report. The major candidates in the fray included BJP’s Morpal Suman and Congress’s Pramod Jain Bhaya, with independent Naresh Meena also entering the contest. The high turnout, combined with a triangular fight, suggests a closely fought race for the seat.
Counting under watchful eye, results eyed by both camps
Counting of votes is scheduled for Friday, and will be held in the seminar hall of the Government PG College in Baran under CCTV surveillance. The election commission has made extensive arrangements to ensure transparency and order during the counting process.
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The outcome is likely to be seen as a litmus test for the ruling BJP in Rajasthan, which currently holds 118 seats in the 200-member assembly. The Congress has 66, while smaller parties hold the remaining seats. The Anta bypoll is the eighth such test for the BJP-led government, which took charge in December 2023.
Both the BJP and the Congress have deployed full resources for the bypoll, seeing it as a key indicator of public sentiment mid-term. With independent candidates also stirring the pot, the result may reflect shifting local dynamics just as much as broader political trends.
