Voting for 147 urban local bodies began at 7 a.m. across Rajasthan, but technical faults in electronic voting machines caused disruptions in booths in Jaipur, Jhunjhunu and Pushkar. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot cast his vote amid accusations against the BJP, while the party lodged a complaint over alleged code violations.

  • EVM glitches reported in Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Pushkar and other booths
  • 147 urban bodies, over 8.7 million eligible voters
  • CM Ashok Gehlot accuses BJP of undermining the Constitution

Election Overview

The second and final phase of Rajasthan’s urban local body elections started at 7 a.m., covering 147 municipal corporations, councils and municipalities. A total of 9,758 polling stations in 4,774 wards will serve 87,60,884 registered voters until 6 p.m.

EVM Glitches and Protests

State Election Commission officials confirmed that electronic voting machines malfunctioned at several locations, notably in Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Pushkar and a handful of other booths. The glitches triggered temporary voting delays and on‑site protests, prompting rapid replacement of the affected machines.

Read Also:Congress Alleges Mass Processing of Bulk Applications to Delete Voters in Uttarakhand

Political Reactions

Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot voted in Jodhpur’s Mahamandir area alongside his family and immediately criticised the ruling BJP, saying, “Some forces are trying to weaken the Constitution. We must strengthen it further and teach the BJP a lesson.” The BJP, in turn, filed a complaint alleging a breach of the model code of conduct at Ward 82, where a polling official allegedly touched Gehlot’s feet.

Violence and Disputes

Separate incidents included a dispute in Jaipur’s Ward 114 over the presence of a Congress candidate, and an alleged assault on independent candidate Ashok Sharma in Jhunjhunu’s Chidawa municipality by three motorcycle‑bearing men. Police are investigating both matters.

Historical Background

Rajasthan’s urban local body elections are conducted in two phases. The first phase on September 9 covered 162 bodies and recorded a 76.41 % voter turnout. This year’s contest features 18,266 candidates vying for mayoral, councilor and deputy positions across six municipal corporations (Jaipur, Ajmer, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur, Pali) and numerous smaller councils.

Upcoming Schedule

Vote counting for councilor seats will commence on September 14. Mayors and chairpersons will be elected on September 21, followed by deputy mayors, deputy chairpersons and municipal vice‑presidents on September 22.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that repeated EVM glitches could erode public confidence in the electoral process, potentially influencing voter turnout and party strategies in future state and national elections.

"Technical failures in voting machines, if not addressed swiftly, risk undermining the legitimacy of democratic outcomes," says Dr. Neha Sharma, election technology expert.
Did You Know?: Rajasthan’s urban local body elections date back to 1959, when the first municipal councils were established in the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How many polling stations were affected by the EVM glitches?
A1: Initial reports indicate that roughly 12 polling stations experienced technical issues.

Q2: When will the vote counting begin?
A2: Counting for councilor positions starts on September 14, with mayoral and deputy elections slated for September 21‑22.