Inter-caste violence and clashes among supporters of rival candidates were witnessed at several places in Rajasthan on Thursday as nearly 60 per cent of the voters turned out for polling for the 200-member state assembly.

A CRPF jawan fired in the air to disperse a mob at Badikhera village under Ladpura Constituency of Kota district but no one was hurt, Director-General of State Police K S Bains said.

There were reports of problems in functioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs)in Jaipur, Ajmer and Sawaimadhopur district, Vinod Zutshi, Chief Electoral Officer, said. The repolling, if any, would be decided on the basis of the reports of the returning officers.

Rajasthan Governor S K Singh and his wife Manju had to wait for quite a while to cast their ballot as the EVM at Jaipur's Hawasrak area booth malfunctioned.

The fate of Chief Minister Vasudhra Raje, AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot and PCC president C P Joshi besides many BJP ministers was sealed in the EVMs by about 60 per cent of the 3.6 crore-strong electorate.

Altogether 2194 candidates including 200 of Congress, 193 of BJP, 199 of BSP, and 1019 independents are in the fray. Counting of votes will take place on December 8.

A supporter of former minister and expelled BJP leader K L Meena allegedly opened fire at a group of Gujjar voters who were on their way to a polling booth near Balghat in Todabheem constituency injuring one person, Home Department sources said.

Caste rivalry was suspected to be the reason for the violence, they said. A police team was sent to arrest the culprit identified as Holasingh Meena, the sources added.

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