Jaipur, October 24 — Voting for Sarpanch and Ward Panch posts began at 7 a.m. on Saturday across 3,314 gram panchayats in Rajasthan, in the first phase of the state's panchayat elections for these rural posts. Polling is scheduled to continue until 6 p.m.

Source: IANS

The polling covers 16 districts — Ajmer, Alwar, Barmer, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Jhalawar, Jodhpur, Kota, Nagaur, Pali, Phalodi, Rajsamand, Sirohi and Udaipur — the same districts where elections for zila parishad and panchayat samiti members were held on October 22, the Indian Witness reported. Barmer has the highest number of gram panchayats voting in this phase at 419, followed by Bhilwara with 326, Phalodi with 305 and Udaipur with 284.

Source: Indian Witness

Unlike previous elections, in which electronic voting machines (EVMs) were used, voting this time is being conducted through ballot papers. Each voter casts two votes — one for the Sarpanch and another for the Ward Panch. Counting will begin immediately after polling ends, and results are expected to be declared by Saturday night.

In Jaipur district, polling is underway for Sarpanch posts in 212 gram panchayats, where 1,525 candidates are contesting. No candidate has been elected unopposed in any of these panchayats, making every contest a direct electoral battle. The Chomu Panchayat Samiti has the highest number of candidates in the district, with 301 people contesting across 34 gram panchayats.

In Kota district, polling is underway for 162 Sarpanch posts and 1,441 Ward Panch positions amid stringent security arrangements. Elections were initially scheduled in 163 gram panchayats, but candidates in Girdharpura Gram Panchayat were elected unopposed, reducing the number going to the polls to 162. In Ajmer district, polling is underway in 122 gram panchayats across six Panchayat Samitis, where 405,041 voters are eligible to decide the fate of 804 candidates.