Rajasthan Panchayat Polls Rescheduled, First Three Phases Advanced by a Day

Rajasthan's State Election Commission has advanced polling for the first three phases of the Panchayati Raj elections by a day, citing religious sentiments associated with the Dhanteras festival.

Under the revised schedule, polling for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti members in the first phase will now be held on October 22, instead of October 23. Voting for panch and sarpanch posts will take place on October 24, a day earlier than the originally scheduled October 25.

In the second phase, polling for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti members has been advanced from October 29 to October 28, while voting for panch and sarpanch posts will now be held on October 30 instead of October 31.

Similarly, in the third phase, polling for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti members will be held on November 3, instead of November 4. Elections for panch and sarpanch posts will take place on November 5, a day earlier than the earlier schedule.

The indirect election of deputy sarpanches by elected ward panchs will be held on October 25, October 31 and November 6 for the first, second and third phases, respectively.

The commission said the changes were made keeping in view the religious sentiments associated with Dhanteras. Accordingly, polling parties for the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections will leave for their respective polling stations on October 21, October 27 and November 2.

The schedule for the fourth phase remains unchanged. Polling for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti members will be held on November 14, while voting for panch and sarpanch posts will take place on November 16.

The remaining election programme, including counting of votes for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti members on November 20, will remain unchanged.

The elections are being held for members of 41 Zila Parishads, 457 Panchayat Samitis and 14,403 Gram Panchayats across Rajasthan.