Rajasthan Assembly Election 2018 LIVE: Upset Over EVM Snag, Jalore Locals Create Ruckus; Voting Halted

Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal casts his vote at polling booth number 172 in Bikaner. 

Rajasthan: Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal stands in a queue to cast his vote at polling booth no. 172 in Bikaner. #RajasthanElections pic.twitter.com/OD306IafM8

— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018

21 per cent voter turnout recorded till 11 am, news agency ANI reported. A total of 189 women candidates, including 50 from the BJP and the Congress, are contesting the Rajasthan assembly elections, the highest number in the last 10 years. 

Watch Out for Exit Polls at News18.com from 5 pm |  After voting ends for the last two states at 5 pm, News18.com will bring you its exit poll that will give you an insight into voters' views and polling trends in Telangana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram. You can also watch the exit polls live on CNN-News18 for our extensive broadcast coverage.

Congress chief Sachin Pilot after his casting vote in Jaipur. CNN News18 quoted Pilot as saying that people have been dissatisfied with the state government for five years. "The issue is about the development of Rajasthan," he said. He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ignoring Rajasthan. "Where was the honourable prime minister for five years?" he asked, adding that "no senior BJP leader came to Rajasthan when there were floods, droughts or suicides."

Voters created ruckus at polling booths 253 and 254 in Ahor constituency of Jalore after voting was put on hold following EVM malfunction.  

Rajasthan: Voters create ruckus at polling booth no. 253 and 254 in Ahor constituency of Jalore as voting has been halted following EVM malfunction. #RajasthanElections2018 pic.twitter.com/v67aloFU9B

— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018

An elderly couple from Dungarpur reached the polling station to cast their votes despite having suffered serious injuries in a road accident recently. 

Chief electoral officer Anand Kumar said differently abled had requested for engaging them in election duty therefore three polling booths, two in Udaipur and one in Nagaur, have been selected for being operated fully by them. "This will give a message that they are no less than anyone,"  Kumar said. 

There are 4.36 lakh differently abled voters in Rajasthan, out of total 4.74 electors, and arrangements for their convenience have been made at the polling booths. "Facilities like ramp, wheel chairs will be available while over 1.03 lakh volunteers of NCC, NSS, scouts and guides have been engaged. Arrangements for pick and drop have also been made for differently abled voters,” Chief electoral officer Anand Kumar said while briefing about election related arrangements.

EVM is being replaced at polling booth number 172 in Bikaner's Kisamidesar following a technical glitch. 

Rajasthan: EVM is being replaced at polling booth no. 172 in Bikaner's Kisamidesar following a technical issue. #RajasthanElections2018 pic.twitter.com/0JnXXALwuE

— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018

"We are winning the  elections in Rajasthan and will do even better in the Lok Sabha elections. The country needs Congress. We will not let Narendra Modi form government in 2019," said former Rajasthan chief minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot after casting his vote in Jodhpur.

#NewsAlert -- We are winning these elections in Rajasthan and we will do even better in the Lok Sabha elections. The country needs @INCIndia. We will not let @narendramodi form government in 2019: @ashokgehlot51. | #BattleForTheStates #ElectionsWithNews18 pic.twitter.com/y1WM44bK5Y

— News18 (@CNNnews18) December 7, 2018

Watch Out for Exit Polls at News18.com from 5 pm |  After voting ends for the last two states at 5 pm, News18.com will bring you its exit poll that will give you an insight into voters' views and polling trends in Telangana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram. You can also watch the exit polls live on CNN-News18 for our extensive broadcast coverage.

BJP's election management committee convenor and Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat casts his votes along with family in Jodhpur. Taking a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, Shekhawat recently said that the Congress president will maintain his record of returning to pavilion without scoring even in Rajasthan. "Muttiah Muralitharan (former Sri Lankan bowler) used to get out at zero after batting at number ten but Rahul Gandhi scores nothing even after playing as an opener. He (Gandhi) will get out at zero in Rajasthan as well. He will maintain his record," the minister said, drawing a cricket analogy.

Congress leader Ashok Gehlot casts his vote in Jodhpur. Gehlot is contesting the polls from Jodhpur's Sardarpura constituency. He served as chief minister from 1998 to 2003, and again from 2008 to 2013.

Rajasthan: Congress leader Ashok Gehlot cast his vote at polling booth no. 106 in Jodhpur. #RajasthanElections pic.twitter.com/EYKuwrOA6D

— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018

6.11 per cent voting turnout in Rajasthan polls till 9 am, news agency ANI reported.

5.58 per cent voting reported in Rajasthan's Tonk till 9am; 5.48 percent in Malpura and 5.19 per cent in Devli-Uniyara 

An Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at a polling station at Jodhpur's Kamla Nagar blind school was found to be defective, reported Firstpost. 

An 80-year-old casts vote in Jodhpur. 

Rajasthan: An 80-year-old woman cast her vote at booth no. 103 in Sardarpura constituency of Jodhpur district. #RajasthanElections2018 pic.twitter.com/wmTiniu07u

— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018

Sachin Pilot accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ignoring Rajasthan. "Where was the honourable prime minister for five years?" he asked, adding that "no senior BJP leader came to Rajasthan when there were floods, droughts or suicides."

#NewsAlert -- This election is on development. Our workers have worked tirelessly and we are confident that people will vote for development: @VasundharaBJP. | #BattleForTheStates #ElectionsWithNews18 pic.twitter.com/meonOKQPJ9

— News18 (@CNNnews18) December 7, 2018

State Congress chief Sachin Pilot told CNN News18 that people have been dissatisfied with the state government for five years. "The issue is about the development of Rajasthan," he said.

Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria cast his vote at a polling station in Udaipur. 

Rajasthan: State Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria cast his vote at a polling station in Udaipur. #RajasthanElections2018 pic.twitter.com/PDnU8aPDQX

— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018

Voting is yet to begin in polling booth no. 253 and 254 in Ahor following EVM malfunction, news agency ANI reported. 

Congress leader Sachin Pilot casts his vote in Jaipur.  

सचिन पायलट जी ने जालूपुरा जयपुर स्थित गौर विप्र सेकण्डरी स्कूल में अपना वोट डाला https://t.co/Kuj6DQXhzh

— Rajasthan PCC (@INCRajasthan) December 7, 2018

Union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore:  Every single vote counts. We have to cast our vote today by thinking who is actually taking the nation forward

Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore in Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur: Every single vote counts. We have to cast our vote today by thinking who is actually taking the nation forward. #RajasthanElections2018 pic.twitter.com/P0GI0TB7T1

— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018

Chief electoral officer Anand Kumar said the matter of faulty EVM machine in Jaipur’s booth number 56 has been discussed with the district election officer and the malfunctioned machine is now being replaced. 

CM Vasundhara Raje on Sharad Yadav's remark 'Vasundhara (Raje) ko aaram do, thak gayi hain, bahut moti ho gayi hain': To set an example for future, it's important that the Election Commision take cognisance of this kind of language. I actually feel insulted and I think even women are insulted. 

#Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje on Sharad Yadav's remark 'Vasundhara (Raje) ko aaram do, thak gayi hain, bahut moti ho gayi hain': To set an example for future it's important that EC takes cognisance of this kind of language. I actually feel insulted&I think even women are insulted pic.twitter.com/dNCO0QLTDX

— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018

EVM is not working in booth number 56 in Jaipur. Reacting to reports of faulty EVM machines in several districts, chief electoral officer Anand Kumar said the matter is being looked into with seriousness. 

In a unique effort, a group has reached out to candidates contesting polls in Rajasthan, asking them to sign an agreement which states that if elected, they would focus on resolving various civic issues including those of cleanliness and stray animals within a year or resign. The signature campaign, carried out by 'Helping Hands, Alwar' group in the run-up to the voting on Friday, has found support with the first-time voters of the city.

Sachin Pilot on CM face from Congress: We will sit and discuss this after our party gets a majority in the election. 

Sachin Pilot, Congress on CM face from Congress: We will sit and discuss this after our party gets a majority in the election. #RajasthanElections2018 pic.twitter.com/fy6PCtY9D9

— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018

EVMs are reportedly not working in some of the booths in Rajasthan where polling will take place from 8 am to 5 pm. 

Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore casts his vote in Jaipur.

#RajasthanAssemblyelection2018: Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore casts his votes at polling booth 252 in Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur. pic.twitter.com/R0KqDbn95I

— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2018