Hours before the counting, both parties -
Congress and
BJP are staking claims to form the government. The ruling BJP, which had a sweeping majority in 2013 elections, is out of favour in almost all the exit polls. Pollsters are indicating a Congress government with the party getting an average of 105 seats while BJP is getting 60-65 seats in the exit polls.
BJP is rejecting assumptions of exit polls citing reversal of
exit poll results in Uttar Pradesh elections where BJP won with thumping majority. Congress leaders are expecting more seats than predicted in exit polls.
The counting at all the district head quarters will start at 8 am and trends are likely to be clear by afternoon.
In Rajasthan, there has been an alternating government between BJP and Congress since 1993. BJP is striving to beat the trend while Congress is vying to stage a comeback after devastating defeat in 2013 elections, when it was reduced to a record low of 21 seats.
The results of 2018 elections is tipped to chart out the electoral path for 2019 general elections. In Rajasthan, ruling party gets maximum seat in parliamentary elections which is held six months after the assembly elections. In 2014 BJP, after trouncing Congress in 2013 assembly elections, effected clean sweep bagging all the 25 parliamentary seats. Then a promising show in assembly elections become all important for both Congress and BJP.
The
EVM machines on Tuesday will unfold, which party will form the government in Rajasthan.