Elections for up-sarpanch posts were held in 3,314 gram panchayats across 16 districts of Rajasthan on Sunday (October 25, 2026), amid reports of disputes over election results and incidents of pelting of stones, while a booth-level officer (BLO) died after suddenly falling ill in Dungarpur district.
The elections followed polling and counting of votes for panch and sarpanch posts in the first phase of gram panchayat polls on Saturday (October 24, 2026).
Only elected ward panch members are eligible to vote in up-sarpanch elections, and ordinary voters do not participate in the process.
According to officials, BLO Ashok Baria suddenly fell ill during the nomination process for the up-sarpanch post in Duka Gram Panchayat under the Simalwara area of Dungarpur district.
He was rushed to Simalwara hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The cause of his death was not immediately known.
A dispute broke out in Garu Gram Panchayat under Kathumar tehsil of Alwar district on Sunday morning over the result of Saturday's sarpanch election.
Supporters of defeated candidate Hardevi staged a sit-in outside a government school, demanding recounting of votes.
Ms. Hardevi's nephew Manoj Kumar claimed that his aunt had been declared defeated by around 76 votes on Saturday night, while Aarti Khandelwal was declared the winner.
He alleged that when they reached the polling station around 9.30 a.m. on Sunday (October 25, 2026), they found a bundle of ballot papers lying inside the school.
Mr. Manoj claimed that these ballot papers had not been included in the counting and that some of them contained votes cast in favour of Ms. Hardevi. The protesters demanded an inquiry and recounting of votes.
Sub-divisional Officer Shyam Sundar, who reached the spot, assured the villagers that action would be taken according to rules if any irregularity was found during the inquiry.
He also asked them to submit written grounds supporting their demand for recounting. An argument broke out between the villagers and the official during the discussion.
In Bikaner district, tension prevailed in Kela Gram Panchayat under Chhatargarh Panchayat Samiti after the sarpanch election result was declared late Saturday night.
Following the victory of Jameela, some people allegedly resorted to stone-pelting on Sunday morning, damaging three police and administrative vehicles.
Police used mild force to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.
In another incident, unidentified persons allegedly hurled stones at the car of Mr. Zuber, son of newly elected Sarpanch Akhtari, in Gudha Gram Panchayat under the Mandal police station area of Bhilwara district.
The attack damaged the front and side windows of the car, and Mr. Zuber sustained a minor injury to his eye. Police said Mr. Zuber was travelling towards a government school when the incident occurred.
A dispute over the choice of a candidate for the up-sarpanch post was suspected to have triggered the incident, although the exact cause had not been officially confirmed. No FIR had been registered by either side so far, police said.
Published - October 25, 2026 04:45 pm IST