Rajasthan High Court on Thursday directed the state government to immediately conduct the Panchayat and Municipal election which has been pending for long. Court directed the state to conduct an election latest by July 31, 2026. The order was passed while the state government and the state Election Commission had filed a petition for additional time for the election to be conducted.
When was the Municipal election scheduled in Rajasthan?
Initially the election was scheduled for 2024. But it was repeatedly shifted because of different reasons such as ward demarcation disputes, weather concerns, and the long pending OBC reservation. The latest order is being seen as a setback for the state government who has been postponing the local body elections for over two years now.
Last year on November 14, the court had directed the High Court for the completion of Panchayat and Municipal elections by April 15, 2026. However, the government had requested an extension owing to the peak summer and the monsoon season. And there was also a mention of delay in the OBC Commission’s report.
One state one election concept
Rajasthan state government had mentioned that there are many Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads whose tenure will end between September and December 2026, so holding elections post that would meet the concept of “One State, One Election.” This argument by the state government was backed by the State Election Commission. There was an argument by the State Election Commission that election could not be conducted before the finalisation of OBC reservations.
After hearing this argument by the State government and State Election Commission on May 11, the court had reserved its order. Today in the final verdict the court rejected the arguments by the state government and state election commission.