Voting Begins For Rajasthan Seat

Poll cancelled due to the Candidate's death…

On Friday, 05 January 2024, Polling for the Karanpur Assembly seat in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district began at 7 am, an official said.

Surendra Pal Singh TT, the BJP nominee from the seat, has already been sworn in as a minister in the newly-formed state cabinet.

"The polling in Karanpur began at 7 am. The polling will be till 6 pm," District Collector Anshdeep said.

Twelve candidates are in the row. The election to the Assembly seat was deferred after the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.

The Congress has fielded Mr. Koonar's son, Rupinder Singh, from the seat.

Surendra Pal Singh TT, who has been a state minister previously, was inducted into the cabinet led by CM Bhajan Lal Sharma as a minister of state (independent charge) on December 30 last year, a move that was opposed by the Congress.

According to the rules, non-legislators can be inducted as ministers only with the condition that they get elected within six months.

Former CM and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot called Surendra Pal Singh TT's swearing-in a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct and an attempt to influence the voters in the constituency.

The poll results will be declared on January 8, the collector said.

A total of 249 polling stations have been set up in the constituency, which has 2.4 lakh voters -- 1,25,850 men, 1,14,966 women, and 10 transgender.

In addition, there are 180 service voters, he added.