Rajasthan Panchayat and Local Body Elections Likely Between September and November

The long-awaited panchayat and urban local body elections in Rajasthan are now expected to be conducted between September and November. This significant indication comes following an application filed by the state government in the Rajasthan High Court. The government has formally requested the court to extend the current deadline for holding these elections, which was previously set for July 31. In its plea, the government cited ongoing correspondence with the OBC Commission and the State Election Commission as the primary reason for the requested delay.

The OBC Reservation Factor

A central argument presented by the government revolves around the political reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBC). The government emphasized that the OBC population in the state constitutes approximately 50 percent of the total population. Given this substantial demographic, the government argued that it would be inappropriate to proceed with the elections without first determining the specific political reservation for this category. The application stated that a final report regarding this reservation is yet to be received from the OBC Commission.

The timeline for the OBC survey was also detailed in the government's submission. The OBC Commission had issued directives to district collectors on June 4, June 19, and June 30 to initiate the survey process. Currently, a statewide survey to collect OBC data is being conducted from July 10 to July 23. The government maintains that sufficient time is necessary to process this data and finalize the reservation details before the electoral process can begin.

Election Commission's Procedural Requirements

The government's application further highlighted the logistical requirements outlined by the State Election Commission. According to the commission's correspondence, approximately 90 days will be required to complete the entire election process once the reservation-wise details are made available. The breakdown of this timeline suggests that the urban local body elections would require about 40 days to be conducted in two phases. On the other hand, the Panchayati Raj institution elections would necessitate approximately 50 days to be completed across four phases.

Based on these calculations, if the State Election Commission receives the finalized reservation details by August 31, the elections could realistically be scheduled between September and November. This timeline represents a shift from the earlier mandates issued by the judiciary.

Legal Background and Contempt Petitions

The legal journey of these elections has seen multiple deadlines. Initially, the Rajasthan High Court had directed the state government and the State Election Commission to ensure the elections were held by April 15. However, both parties subsequently filed applications seeking more time. In response, the High Court set a firm deadline of July 31 for the completion of the elections under all circumstances. Also, the OBC Commission was instructed to submit its report by June 20.

The failure to conduct the elections within the court-mandated timeframe has led to legal repercussions. Former MLA Sanyam Lodha and Girraj Singh Devanda have filed a contempt petition against the state government and the State Election Commission for non-compliance with the court's orders. This contempt matter is scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday before the division bench of Justice Inderjeet Singh, where the government's latest application for a time extension will also be a focal point of discussion.