Jaipur: Rajasthan recorded 80.2% voter turnout by the end of polling Saturday in the first phase of elections for the posts of panch and sarpanch across 16 districts, amid sporadic incidents of violence and allegations of fake voting.In all, 3,314 sarpanch and 28,682 ward panch posts were up for grabs, with votes cast on paper ballots. Counting, which began soon after the end of polling, is expected to continue into the night. Officials will count ward panch votes first, followed by votes polled for sarpanch candidates, with results likely to emerge by late night.Jaipur district recorded a voter turnout of 86.5% by the end of polling.At Morija gram panchayat in Chomu, an additional SP was injured and several people were detained after violence erupted during vote counting following rumours that ballot boxes were being replaced.According to police, a polling agent allegedly spread the rumour, prompting villagers to gather at the counting venue. The crowd later pelted stones at police personnel, forcing officers to resort to a lathi-charge to disperse them.Officials said an additional SP-rank officer was injured during the attack.Police teams from Samod and nearby areas were rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control. Police detained eight people in connection with the incident.Officials said counting was expected to continue peacefully under the close watch of the administration.
Government Mahatma Gandhi School, KhedawasRajasthan recorded 80% voter turnout till 6 pm Saturday in the first phase of Panch-Sarpanch elections across 16 districts on 24 October 2026
Unlike the previous panchayat elections, when EVMs were used, voters cast their votes on paper this time. Each voter had to cast two votes — one for the post of sarpanch and another for ward panch.State election commissioner Rajeshwar Singh visited polling booths in five gram panchayats under Chomu panchayat samiti and two under Govindgarh panchayat samiti to review the election process and assess polling arrangements.
Government Higher Secondary School, Pachar, JobnerRajasthan recorded 80% voter turnout till 6 pm Saturday in the first phase of Panch-Sarpanch elections across 16 districts on 24 October 2026
Other reports of clashes that came in from various parts of the state over the course of the day included one between two groups armed with sticks and clubs at the Nagauri Mohalla area of Maujambad, Jaipur. The clash here took place over a ward panch seat, with members of rival groups confronting each other and forcing police to intervene to bring the situation under control.Allegations of fake voting, meanwhile, triggered an uproar at several polling booths in Bhilwara, while voting was boycotted in Duthariya village of Pali’s Rani panchayat, where villagers expressed unhappiness with the delimitation process.
District Collector Sandesh Nayak inspecting Hiranoda and Rojdi polling stations Rajasthan recorded 80% voter turnout till 6 pm Saturday in the first phase of Panch-Sarpanch elections across 16 districts on 24 October 202
Polling remained suspended here after residents continued their election boycott over the delimitation process. Villagers here had also stayed away from voting for zila parishad and panchayat samiti members earlier this week, objecting to their village being merged with Itandra Medtiyan following delimitation.They allege that the change created connectivity problems as there was no direct road between the two villages, forcing locals to take a lengthy detour.Tension also prevailed at Bairer panchayat in Alwar’s Rajgarh after sarpanch candidate Rajendra Meena staged a dharna alleging that around 100 fake votes had been cast. He demanded re-polling and an FIR against a policeman.In Chargadia gram panchayat under Bhindar Panchayat Samiti in Udaipur, a sarpanch candidate alleged that he was assaulted by members of a rival group Friday night.Police resorted to a mild lathi-charge after a large crowd gathered and moved towards the polling centre near Devikund Sagar in Ridmalsar Purohitan of Bikaner during the final stage of the panchayat election.In Bhilwara, allegations of fake voting triggered an uproar at polling booths, though details of the specific allegation were not immediately available.
