The first phase of Rajasthan Panchayati Raj elections is underway on 22 October 2026, with polling covering 16 Zila Parishads and 104 Panchayat Samitis across the state. A total of 85,07,306 eligible voters are deciding among 6,926 candidates, but the exercise has been marked by boycotts in several villages in Jodhpur, Pali, and Kota districts, alongside scattered electronic voting machine (EVM) malfunctions.

Boycotts and Their Triggers

In Pali district, residents of Duthariya village under Rani Panchayat Samiti refused to vote, protesting a delimitation decision that merged their village with Itandra Medtiyan. Villagers point out that the nearest route passes through a forested area, adding roughly 9 km to any journey, and demand either a separate Gram Panchayat or restoration to Bhadarlau. In the same district, residents of Nepawas village under Sojat Panchayat Samiti boycotted after being reassigned from Ward 1 to Ward 3; the district administration has initiated talks to resolve the dispute.

In Jodhpur district, voters in Mangal Singh Nagar Gram Panchayat under the Shergarh Assembly constituency stayed away from booths over the reservation of the Sarpanch post for the OBC category. Villagers note that none of the 1,052 registered voters in the Gram Panchayat belongs to the OBC category. Tehsildar and Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vikrant Sharma and local MLA Babusingh Rathore reached the village to persuade residents to participate.

In Kota district, residents of Chak-Todi Todikhedli village under Sinota Gram Panchayat in the Itawa area boycotted polling. Villager Krishna Meena explained that their hamlet was moved from Dhipri Chambal Gram Panchayat to Sinota — roughly 11 km away through forested terrain — making access especially arduous for elderly residents. They are demanding restoration to Dhipri Chambal.

Technical Glitches and Disruptions

In Kota's Sangod Panchayat Samiti, polling was suspended for around 15 minutes at Kuradiya Khurd polling station after an EVM malfunctioned; voting resumed once a replacement machine was installed. In Pali, polling station 2 in Bagri Nagar Panchayat opened approximately one hour late owing to an EVM fault. Returning Officer Bhagirath Chaudhary arranged a replacement, after which polling commenced normally.

In Bikaner, a voter standing in the queue at Booth 19 of Aduri Gram Panchayat fell ill and collapsed. In Barmer, following the death of a Congress candidate contesting Ward 8 of Mangta Panchayat Samiti, the Returning Officer displayed a public notice at the polling booth confirming the removal of the candidate's name and symbol from the EVM.

Turnout and Political Landscape

Early turnout figures show Bikaner recording the highest voter participation, while Udaipur registered the lowest. The primary contest is between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, with the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP), Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), and Independent candidates holding significant influence in several pockets.

Deputy CM Votes in Jaipur

Deputy Chief Minister Dr Premchand Bairwa cast his vote at Booth 92 in Shrinivaspura village under Maujamabad Panchayat Samiti in Jaipur district, accompanied by his wife, son, and daughter. He also stopped at the designated selfie point after voting.

Polling continues amid active administrative negotiations in boycott-hit villages and isolated technical disruptions; the resolution of delimitation and reservation grievances will likely shape participation levels through the remaining phases.