Rajasthan Panchayat Election 2026: Ballot Papers Replace EVMs

The shift puts more weight on the counting process. Paper ballots require manual tallying, which takes more staff and closer scrutiny of each vote. Even so, counting will begin immediately after polling ends, and results are expected by Saturday night. How smoothly officials manage that turnaround will be watched closely, both by candidates and by those following the debate over voting methods in local elections.

Jaipur: No Walkovers, Every Seat a Contest

In Jaipur district, polling is underway for Sarpanch posts in 212 Gram Panchayats, where 1,525 candidates are contesting. Not a single candidate has been elected unopposed here, making every one of the 212 panchayats a direct electoral battle.

The Chomu Panchayat Samiti stands out, with 301 candidates contesting across 34 Gram Panchayats, the highest in the district.

Kota: Tight Security, One Panchayat Settled Early

In Kota district, voting is taking place for 162 Sarpanch posts and 1,441 Ward Panch positions amid stringent security arrangements. Polls were originally scheduled in 163 Gram Panchayats, but candidates for both Sarpanch and Ward Panch posts in Girdharpura Gram Panchayat were elected unopposed. According to available figures, 1,129 candidates are contesting for the Sarpanch posts.

Ajmer: 4 Lakh Voters, Two Consensus Panchayats

Polling is underway in 122 Gram Panchayats across six Panchayat Samitis in Ajmer district, where 405,041 voters will decide the fate of 804 candidates. Srinagar Panchayat Samiti has the most voters at 101,076, followed by Pisangan (94,593), Sarwar (75,751), Kekri (73,506) and Sawar (55,018). Nand, the only Gram Panchayat in the Ajmer-Rural area listed in the election data, has the lowest number.

Ajmer also produced notable consensus outcomes. In Sampla Gram Panchayat under Sarwar Panchayat Samiti, Arjun Singh Rathore was elected Sarpanch unopposed, and every Ward Panch candidate there was also returned without a contest. All Ward Panch candidates in Shergarh Gram Panchayat were likewise elected unopposed.

The Bigger Picture

Contested and consensus panchayats side by side reveal two faces of rural politics. Fully contested districts like Jaipur point to strong competition and political ambition at the village level. Unopposed results in places like Sampla and Girdharpura often reflect local agreement, though they also mean residents did not get to vote for those seats.

What Comes Next

The first phase concludes on Sunday, when newly elected Ward Panchs will vote to choose their Deputy Sarpanchs. Until then, attention stays on voter turnout, the pace of manual counting and the results expected late on Saturday, which will set the tone for the phases still to come.