Rajasthan Begins First Phase of Panchayati Raj Elections

The Government of Rajasthan began the first phase of the Panchayati Raj elections at 7 am on Thursday, October 22, 2026. This initial stage of the voting process covers 16 zila parishads and 104 panchayat samitis, involving more than 85 lakh eligible voters. A total of 6,976 candidates are competing for 2,081 seats across 293 zila parishad wards and 1,788 panchayat samiti wards.

Voting in this phase includes districts such as Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur, with Jaipur recording the highest number of zila parishad candidates. The state has organized the broader election process into three distinct phases, with the second phase scheduled for October 28 and the third for November 3.

Following the completion of these phases, elections for panches and sarpanches will be held on November 5. The process will conclude with indirect elections for up-sarpanches on November 6.