Rajasthan is set to undergo a significant electoral exercise for its three-tier Panchayati Raj institutions, with the State Election Commission announcing a four-phase polling schedule. The elections, which cover 41 Zila Parishads, 457 Panchayat Samitis, and 14,403 village panchayats, are slated to begin on October 23 and conclude on November 17. The process follows a major delimitation and reorganisation of the state's rural governance framework.
State Election Commissioner Rajeshwar Singh, speaking at a press conference in Jaipur, confirmed that approximately 4.03 crore voters are eligible to participate. The total number of electors in rural areas has seen a 6.22% increase compared to the previous electoral cycle held in 2020-21. To facilitate the voting process, the state will establish 45,384 polling stations across its districts. With the official announcement of the schedule, the model code of conduct has immediately come into force in all rural areas of the state.
The voting for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti members is scheduled to take place in four phases on October 23, October 29, November 4, and November 14. For the positions of panch and sarpanch, polling will be held on October 25, October 31, November 6, and November 16. Officials noted that the counting of votes for panch and sarpanch posts will occur immediately after polling concludes at the respective village headquarters. Elections for deputy sarpanch roles are scheduled for October 26, November 1, November 7, and November 17, corresponding to the phases.
Following the conclusion of these polls, the process for electing higher-level office bearers will commence. The election for Zila Pramukh is set for November 25, followed by the election of Up-Zila Pramukh on November 26. Panchayat Samiti Pradhans are to be elected on November 27, while the selection of Up-Pradhans will take place on November 28. The results for Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis are expected to be declared on November 20.
Mr. Singh emphasized that the state is committed to the 'One State, One Election' concept, leading to the simultaneous conduct of these elections. The logistics for voting will differ based on the level of the institution: sarpanch and panch elections will be conducted using traditional ballot papers, while electronic voting machines will be utilized for the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections.
The scale of this year's election reflects the significant reorganisation of Panchayati Raj bodies in the state. The number of Zila Parishads has risen from 33 to 41, and Panchayat Samitis have increased from 352 to 457. Furthermore, the commission has mandated a 50% reservation for women within these newly reorganized institutions to ensure greater gender representation in rural governance.
As the state prepares for the upcoming phases, the administration has finalized all arrangements to ensure adherence to the model code of conduct. The focus remains on maintaining the integrity of the multi-phase process while accommodating the increased number of administrative units and the expanded voter base across the state.
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