Jaipur: Uncertainty has once again deepened regarding the Panchayat and Municipal elections in Rajasthan. The Bhajanlal Sharma government has clarified in the Rajasthan High Court that holding the elections within the stipulated timeframe is currently not possible and has requested additional time.
Government's argument on court deadline
The High Court had previously directed the completion of the election process by April 15, but the government argued that this deadline was not feasible under the current circumstances. The government's defense stated that numerous administrative, technical, and systemic hurdles were being faced.
Why was the election process stalled?
The government told the court that there were problems at several levels in holding the elections, such as:
Shortage of election staff
Availability of schools/buildings
Arrangement of EVM machines
Delay in booking
Due to all these reasons, it has been said that it is difficult to complete the election process on time.
OBC reservation became a big issue
The government has cited the report of the Rajasthan OBC Commission as the main reason for the delay in elections.
The commission was formed in May 2025.
Time taken to prepare the report
Reservation for SC, ST, OBC and women will be decided only on the basis of the new report.
The government says that holding elections without implementing new reservation would be against social justice.
“One State, One Election” plan
The government has also indicated that it wants to hold elections between October and December, as the tenure of many Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads is ending around that time.
This will enable the implementation of the plan of holding all elections simultaneously – “One State, One Election” .
What will happen next?
The next hearing in the High Court is considered crucial in this entire matter. The court will decide whether to grant the government additional time to postpone the elections or to uphold the previous order. Panchayat and civic body elections in Rajasthan are currently in limbo. The government is seeking time, citing administrative preparations and the reservation process, while the final decision will now depend on the court's stance.
