Voting is going on from 7 am on Tuesday for the by-election 2025 on Anta assembly seat of Baran district of Rajasthan. Voters have been exercising their franchise in large numbers since morning at a total of 268 polling stations. Till 5 pm, 77.17% voting was recorded, while till 3 pm, 64.68% voting was done and due to the remaining time, it is being estimated that like last time, there could be record voting this time too. A lot of enthusiasm is being seen at the polling stations among women, elderly people and youth who are voting for the first time.
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Anta Assembly by-election 2025 – Photo: Amar Ujala
Voting process and administrative preparations
The district administration and election department have made extensive preparations to make the Anta by-election peaceful, fair and transparent. District Election Officer Rohitashv Singh Tomar said that all necessary steps have been taken to ensure that the voting process remains free and fair. Keeping security in mind, policemen have been deployed at each polling station, while CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) presence has been ensured at sensitive and ultra-sensitive booths. Ramps, drinking water, shade and wheelchairs have been arranged for the convenience of voters at each booth. Jute bags have been provided to collect mobile phones at polling stations and two volunteers have also been deployed so that voters do not face any inconvenience.
Election atmosphere heated up in triangular contest
Anta by-election has become a triangular contest this time. BJP has made Morpal Suman its candidate, while Congress has expressed confidence in Pramod Jain Bhaya. Whereas, independent Naresh Meena has the support of RLP and Aam Aadmi Party. All three candidates tried their best to woo the voters by holding road shows, meetings and public relations till the last day of the campaign.
Before voting, BJP candidate Morpal Suman reached his village Tisaya and offered prayers in the temple and then went to the polling station and cast his vote. During the election campaign, BJP leaders like Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, MP Dushyant Singh and State President Madan Rathod handled the campaign. On the other hand, Congress fielded senior leaders like Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, Govind Singh Dotasara and Tikaram Juli.
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Anta Assembly by-election 2025 – Photo: Amar Ujala
Technical flaws and promptness of administration at polling stations
Technical problems were also encountered at some polling stations. After 184 votes were cast at polling station 84 of Balunda village of Mangrol area, the EVM machine malfunctioned, due to which the voting was halted for some time.
Similarly, due to a technical glitch in the VVPAT machine at booth number 209, voting came to a halt for about 20 minutes. However, administrative teams immediately sent new machines and restarted the voting process.
Sakli village boycotted voting
736 voters boycotted the by-election in Sakli village of Anta assembly constituency. People have decided not to vote in protest against the non-resolution of local issues. To handle the situation, a team of administration reached the village and tried to convince the villagers to vote. At the same time, independent candidate Naresh Meena, who was boycotting voting in the Anta assembly by-election, also reached Sankali village and sat on a dharna.
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Enthusiasm of elderly and disabled voters
While youth showed enthusiasm at the polling stations, elderly and disabled voters were also not left behind. Under special arrangements, the administration has arranged for wheelchairs and volunteers for the elderly. Voters above 80 years of age came to exercise their franchise at many polling stations, which showed a strong example of public participation towards democracy.
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Anta Assembly by-election 2025 – Photo: Amar Ujala
Record breaking turnout expected
There was 80.3 percent voting in Anta assembly constituency in 2023. This time long queues are being seen at polling stations since morning. By 11 am, 28.74 percent voting had taken place, while by 3 pm this figure reached 64.68 percent. In such a situation, there is a possibility that in the end a new record of voting may be created this time also.
By-election is being held in Anta due to BJP leader Kanwarlal Meena.
This by-election is being conducted after the membership of former MLA Kanwarlal Meena was cancelled. The Assembly had canceled Meena’s membership in May 2025 after she was convicted by the Rajasthan High Court in a 20-year-old case.
According to the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in the ‘Lily Thomas vs. Union of India’ case, any public representative automatically becomes disqualified if he is sentenced to two years or more. Under this law the Anta seat was declared vacant.
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Anta by-election 2025 – Photo: Amar Ujala
A total of 2.28 lakh voters will vote at 268 centres.
Voting is taking place at a total of 268 polling stations in Anta assembly constituency. There are 2,28,264 registered voters, which include 1,16,783 males, 1,11,477 females and 4 other voters.
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Strong arrangements for security and monitoring
The administration is completely alert regarding security arrangements during the voting process. 12 quick response teams, 43 mobile parties, 43 sector magistrates, 12 police supervisory officers, 12 area magistrates, 4 senior police observers and 4 senior administrative officers are keeping a constant vigil. 13 interstate and 5 interdistrict checkpoints have been kept active in the border areas, where continuous investigation is going on with the help of armed forces.
Fear-free environment created by arms accumulation and preventive action
The Election Department has so far collected 4,262 weapons to provide a fear-free environment to the voters. During the blockade, 8 illegal weapons and 5 cartridges were seized. Apart from this, preventive action was taken against 1,134 persons and 2,716 people were placed under bond. The administration claims that law and order will not be allowed to deteriorate under any circumstances.
