Elections Deferred in Rajasthan’s 6759 Panchayats; Sarpanches to Serve as Administrators

Jaipur, January 16 : The Rajasthan government has announced that elections in 6759 gram panchayats, initially scheduled for January, have been postponed. Instead, the government has decided to appoint the current sarpanches as administrators for these panchayats. To assist the sarpanches, an administrative committee will be formed at each gram panchayat level, comprising the deputy sarpanch and ward members. The Panchayati Raj Department has issued a notification formalizing this decision.

Following the Madhya Pradesh Model

This decision mirrors the governance model adopted in Madhya Pradesh and other BJP-ruled states, where sarpanches were also given administrative responsibilities in similar circumstances.

The terms of these 6759 gram panchayats are set to expire this month, and elections were legally required to be conducted before January 31. However, the state government opted to delay the polls as part of its “One State, One Election” policy. The government has also announced the restructuring of Panchayati Raj institutions, delaying elections until the restructuring process is completed.

Role of Administrators and Committees

Sarpanches will function as administrators in their respective panchayats, but their decisions will need to be approved by the administrative committee. District collectors will oversee the appointment of sarpanch administrators and the formation of committees for panchayats whose terms have expired.

Restructuring and Election Synchronization

Rajasthan has over 11,000 gram panchayats, with terms expiring at different times. The “One State, One Election” initiative aims to synchronize elections for all Panchayati Raj institutions.

• 6759 Panchayats: Terms end in January 2025.
• 704 Panchayats: Terms end in March 2025.
• 3847 Panchayats: Terms expire between September and October 2025.

To address these varying timelines and avoid election-related delays, the decision to appoint sarpanches as administrators has been implemented.

A Shift from Traditional Practices

Previously, when panchayat elections were delayed, gram secretaries were given administrative responsibilities. This time, a new model has been introduced where sarpanches themselves will take on these duties, supported by administrative committees.

Political Calculations and Sarpanch Sentiments

The decision is also seen as a political move to appease sarpanch unions, which have long supported the “One State, One Election” policy and demanded an extension of their current terms. The union began lobbying for this change as early as July 2024, submitting memorandums and meeting leaders to press their demands.

Restructuring Timeline

The restructuring of Panchayati Raj institutions will occur between January 20 and April 15. This includes creating new gram panchayats and committees and revising the boundaries of existing institutions. The new framework will ease administrative tasks like issuing birth and death certificates by reducing distances to administrative offices.