Rajasthan Panchayat Elections: A New Timeline Unveiled
The Rajasthan government has finally announced a concrete timeline for the long-pending Panchayati Raj and urban local body elections, with the process expected to be completed by November 15 this year. This development comes after the submission of a report by the Other Backward Classes (OBC) Political Representation Commission in August.
A recent hearing at the Rajasthan High Court saw the Bharatiya Janata Party government submit a detailed schedule for the elections, which will determine the reservation of seats based on the Commission’s report. The High Court had earlier directed the State government to complete the delimitation process by December 31 and hold the polls by April 15, 2026.
Election Schedule and Reservation Process
According to the schedule, the classification of wards for reservation will be completed within 10 days after the submission of the OBC Commission’s report. The reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and women will be finalized through a lottery process by August 15. The State Election Commission will then initiate the process for conducting the polls.
The court was informed that the local body elections will be notified on August 17 and held by September 20, followed by the panchayat election notification on September 23. The entire process is expected to be completed by November 15, as assured by the State government.
Opposition Reaction and Contempt Notices
The Opposition Congress has been critical of the BJP government’s delay in holding the polls, alleging that the postponement amounts to an attack on democracy. The party claims that the BJP fears its defeat in the elections due to its “misgovernance” during the last two-and-a-half years.
The Rajasthan High Court had earlier issued contempt notices to the State Election Commission and Election Commissioner Rajeshwar Singh, taking exception to the delay despite its previous order. The court has now disposed of the petitions after recording the State government’s assurance on the timeline.
The elections will cover approximately 14,000 village panchayats and over 300 municipalities in the state. With the new timeline in place, the stage is set for a crucial electoral battle in Rajasthan.
- The delimitation of local bodies and revision of voter lists have already been completed.
- The State government has cited administrative and legal constraints as reasons for the delay.
- The Opposition Congress has targeted the BJP government over the delay, alleging a threat to democracy.
Source: Original Article
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