Khatushyamji chairperson poll reset for Sep 25 after missing councillor found
Synopsis
A missing councillor, a police abduction complaint, and 13 hours of searching — the Khatushyamji Municipal Council chairperson election became a political thriller before being rescheduled to 25 September. With the sealed ballot box holding 19 already-cast votes in police custody, the final result now hangs on the resumed poll.
Key Takeaways
The Khatushyamji Municipal Council chairperson election has been rescheduled to 25 September , with the vice-chairperson poll on 26 September .
Congress councillor Lakshmi Devi of Ward 10 was traced by police on Tuesday morning after a search of over 13 hours .
Her husband Harlal had filed a police complaint on 21 September alleging abduction after she failed to reach the polling venue.
A ballot box containing 19 votes cast before the election was halted was sealed and deposited at Khatushyamji police station under police guard.
The revised schedule was notified by State Election Commission Secretary Rajesh Verma on 22 September .
Contesting candidates are BJP nominee Prem Devi Rulania and Congress candidate Vinita Poonia .
The Rajasthan State Election Commission has rescheduled the Khatushyamji Municipal Council chairperson election for 25 September after missing Congress councillor Lakshmi Devi was traced by police on Tuesday morning, ending over 13 hours of uncertainty that had forced the original poll to be deferred. The vice-chairperson election is set for 26 September.
How the Crisis Unfolded
The chairperson election was originally scheduled for 21 September but was thrown into disarray when councillor Lakshmi Devi of Ward 10 failed to appear at the polling venue. Her husband, Harlal, filed a police complaint alleging she had been abducted, triggering an extensive multi-team search operation across the district.
District Election Officer Kapil Upadhyay repeatedly extended polling hours on 21 September in an effort to accommodate her participation. When she still did not arrive, officials moved to seal the ballot box containing the 19 votes already cast — a step taken in the presence of both contesting candidates.
The Search Operation
Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar Jangid said multiple teams were deployed under the supervision of SP Praveen Nayak Lunawat, drawing on both technical and field intelligence. The councillor was located on Tuesday morning after more than 13 hours of searching. She was brought to the police station, produced before a court, and subsequently handed over to her husband.
Ballot Box Sealed, Deposited Under Guard
In the early hours of 22 September, the sealed ballot box — carrying the 19 votes cast before the election was halted — was deposited at the Khatushyamji police station under police protection. The sealing was conducted in the presence of BJP nominee Prem Devi Rulania and Congress candidate Vinita Poonia, the two contestants for the chairperson's post.
Revised Schedule and What Happens Next
State Election Commission Secretary Rajesh Verma issued the revised order on 22 September, directing that the postponed chairperson election process — including the declaration of results — be completed on 25 September, followed by the vice-chairperson poll on 26 September. With the missing councillor now accounted for, attention shifts to whether the resumption proceeds without further disruption and what the final vote count reveals about the council's political balance.
Point of View
Such incidents risk normalising disruption as a tactical tool in small-council elections where one vote can decide the chair. The Election Commission's swift rescheduling is procedurally sound, but the unanswered questions about what actually happened to the councillor deserve a fuller accounting.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Khatushyamji Municipal Council chairperson election postponed?
The election, originally scheduled for 21 September, was postponed after Congress councillor Lakshmi Devi of Ward 10 failed to appear at the polling venue. Her husband alleged she had been abducted, prompting a police search that lasted over 13 hours.
When is the Khatushyamji chairperson election now scheduled?
The rescheduled chairperson election is set for 25 September, with the declaration of results on the same day. The vice-chairperson poll follows on 26 September, as per the revised order issued by State Election Commission Secretary Rajesh Verma.
Who are the candidates contesting the Khatushyamji chairperson election?
The two contesting candidates are BJP nominee Prem Devi Rulania and Congress candidate Vinita Poonia. Both were present when the ballot box containing 19 already-cast votes was sealed and deposited at the Khatushyamji police station.
What happened to the votes already cast before the election was halted?
The 19 votes cast before polling was stopped on 21 September were sealed in a ballot box in the presence of both candidates and deposited at the Khatushyamji police station under police protection in the early hours of 22 September.
How was missing councillor Lakshmi Devi found?
Police deployed multiple teams using technical and field intelligence under the supervision of SP Praveen Nayak Lunawat. She was located on Tuesday morning after more than 13 hours of searching, produced before a court, and handed over to her husband.
