- India,
- 23-Aug-2025 04:42 PM IST
Rajasthan Government: There has been a tussle between the state government and the State Election Commission regarding the Panchayat and Municipal elections in Rajasthan. Bhajan Lal Government has approved the simultaneous elections of all local bodies in December 2025 under the 'One State, One Election' policy on the lines of 'One Nation One Election'. On the other hand, the State Election Commission has made it clear that the urban bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions whose term is ending in 2026 will not be dissolved and elections will not be held.Hearing in High Court on August 25
The State Election Commission has rejected the argument of the ministers of the government, citing the instructions of the High Court. Meanwhile, the petition of Bhajan Lal Government is to be heard in the Rajasthan High Court on August 25, 2025. This hearing can play an important role in further clarifying this dispute.Elections are pending for a yearThe term of about 11,310 gram panchayats and 125 municipal bodies in Rajasthan has been completed in the last one year, but their elections have not been held. Opposition parties, especially Congress leader Govind Singh Dotasara, have termed it a violation of constitutional provisions and an attack on democracy. He has accused the government of deliberately delaying the elections to local bodies.High Court's reprimand and Election Commission's standRecently, the Rajasthan High Court had strongly reprimanded the government for the delay in panchayat elections. The court directed the State Election Commission to ensure compliance with constitutional provisions. After pressure from the court, the commission has indicated that the election may be announced in the next 7-10 days. According to the commission, the voting process can be completed by October-November 2025.Government's emphasis on 'one state, one election'The Bhajanlal government is committed to implementing the policy of 'one state, one election'. Under this policy, it is proposed to conduct elections of all local bodies simultaneously, so that time, resources and administrative burden can be reduced. However, the State Election Commission has clarified that unless Parliament amends the Constitution, it is not possible to implement this policy for local bodies.
The State Election Commission has rejected the argument of the ministers of the government, citing the instructions of the High Court. Meanwhile, the petition of Bhajan Lal Government is to be heard in the Rajasthan High Court on August 25, 2025. This hearing can play an important role in further clarifying this dispute.Elections are pending for a yearThe term of about 11,310 gram panchayats and 125 municipal bodies in Rajasthan has been completed in the last one year, but their elections have not been held. Opposition parties, especially Congress leader Govind Singh Dotasara, have termed it a violation of constitutional provisions and an attack on democracy. He has accused the government of deliberately delaying the elections to local bodies.High Court's reprimand and Election Commission's standRecently, the Rajasthan High Court had strongly reprimanded the government for the delay in panchayat elections. The court directed the State Election Commission to ensure compliance with constitutional provisions. After pressure from the court, the commission has indicated that the election may be announced in the next 7-10 days. According to the commission, the voting process can be completed by October-November 2025.Government's emphasis on 'one state, one election'The Bhajanlal government is committed to implementing the policy of 'one state, one election'. Under this policy, it is proposed to conduct elections of all local bodies simultaneously, so that time, resources and administrative burden can be reduced. However, the State Election Commission has clarified that unless Parliament amends the Constitution, it is not possible to implement this policy for local bodies.