New Delhi, December 7: The Congress is likely to oust the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rajasthan, in what is predicted to be a nail-biting finish. The exit poll released by ABP News, in coordination with Lokniti-CSDS, is expected to cross the halfway majority mark, by winning 101 of the 119 constituencies contested.

The survey projects the BJP to be restricted to 83 seats -- down from 163 it had won in the last assembly elections. Others, including the BSP, are predicted to bag 15 assembly segments. Times Now Survey Predicts 105 For Congress, 85 For BJP.

ABP News-CSDS Exit Poll Results of Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2018:

Party Seats Predicted (2018)
Congress 101
BJP 83
Others 15

In the polls held today in 199 constituencies of Rajasthan, the Election Commission recorded 72.7 percent voter turnout. Polling was conducted smoothly in over 52,000 voting booths in the state, with no instance of violence or ruckus being reported.

The poll battle in Rajasthan was primarily stacked between a resurgent Congress and the ruling BJP -- which was reportedly facing anti-incumbency. While the latter has confirmed that Vasundhara Raje would continue as the Chief Minister if they are elected to power, the Congress had refrained from projecting a CM candidate.

Notably, Rajasthan is one of the few states in India which continues to replace their governments in every five years. In all assembly polls held in last two-and-a-half decade, the frontier state has booted out the incumbent party.

In 2013, the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress -- which was then in power -- was overwhelmingly voted out by the electorate. The party was restricted to 21 constituencies, whereas, the BJP had won 163 seats.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 07, 2018 08:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).