Jaipur, Nov. 12 -- Voting for the Anta by-election took place till 6.30pm on Tuesday, with poll officials announcing an initial figure of 79.6% turnout, which was marginally lower than the 81.17% turnout the constituency witnessed during the 2023 assembly elections. State chief electoral officer Naveen Mahajan said, "The polling was mainly peaceful and a significant number of voters turned up. We are estimating the final turnout to cross 84%%. The counting will happen on Friday (November 14). Around 3,077 police personnel were deployed, along with 12 quick response teams, 43 mobile parties, 43 sector magistrates, 12 supervisory police officers and 12 area magistrates." "All polling stations also supported webcasting, which was monitored round the clock from control rooms at the district headquarters and the returning officer's office. Five "green polling stations" were established to promote environmental awareness, and all booths will remain free from single-use plastic. Ramps, drinking water, shade and deposit bags for mobile phones were arranged at all stations. A total of 1,240 personnel has been deployed across 268 regular and 29 reserve teams, supported by 41 micro-observers and 52 videography observers," added Mahajan. Anta constituency in Baran district comprises a total 228,264 voters including 116,783 men, 111,477 women, and four people belonging to the third gender. It recorded a massive 81.17% turnout in the last state poll in 2023 followed by 80.47% in 2018, 80.15% in 2013, and 71.06% in 2008, data from the election commission showed. The seat fell vacant after the disqualification of the BJP MLA, Kanwar Lal Meena in May this year for being convicted for a 2003 case in which he aimed a pistol at a sub-divisional magistrate. After Meena's ouster, BJP fielded a former Baran Zila Parishad president Morpal Sumanagainst Congress stalwart, former minister, and two-time MLA Pramod Jain Bhaya. However, Naresh Meena as an independent candidate, the contest has taken on a new prong On Tuesday, Meena also staged a dharna at a polling booth in Sakli village, demanding better roads and street lights and threatening to boycott the vote, said officials. However, district officials reached the spot at around 12 am, placated Meena and his supporters, they added....