JAIPUR: Rajasthan govt informed the high court Monday that municipal and panchayat elections in the state will be completed by Nov 15, submitting a detailed timeline for the long-delayed polls.In an affidavit filed through Advocate General Rajendra Prasad, the govt said category-wise data will be submitted to the OBC Commission by Aug 5, while the lottery for reservation arrangements will be completed by Aug 15.The State Election Commission is expected to complete the election process within 90 days after the reservation exercise is finalised. According to the petitioner’s counsel, municipal polls are likely to be completed by Sept 20, followed by panchayat elections, which are to conclude by Nov 15.A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Sanjeet Purohit recorded the submissions while hearing a contempt petition filed by former legislator Sanyam Lodha, who alleged wilful disobedience of judicial directions. Petitioner Lodha’s counsel Punit Singhvi told TOI that the election dates have now been finalised. He said the OBC Commission will submit its report on Aug 5, the reservation roster will be issued by Aug 15, and municipal polls are expected to be completed by Sept 20. Panchayat elections will follow and are to be completed by Nov 15.The govt said preparations have been made to complete all steps within the fixed timeframe. The submission came after the high court, on July 16, directed the State Election Commission to finalise the election schedule for panchayat and urban local bodies by July 20.The high court earlier directed the govt and the State Election Commission in Nov 2025 to complete local body elections by April 15. After that deadline was missed, the court set a fresh deadline of July 31 on May 22. The state again sought more time on July 16, drawing sharp criticism from the bench.For extension of the dates, the govt argued that nearly 50% of Rajasthan’s population belongs to Other Backward Classes and that constitutionally valid political reservation for OBCs must be finalised before announcing the election schedule. It also cited delay in the OBC Commission’s report on seat reservation as the reason for not conducting the polls earlier.
