Jaipur: Rajasthan State Other Backward Classes (Political Representation) Commission submitted its report to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma Wednesday, clearing a key hurdle to long-delayed panchayat and urban local body elections.Panchayat polls have been pending for about 18 months, while urban local body elections are delayed by nearly a year. The state govt had cited the pending OBC Commission report before Rajasthan High Court and Supreme Court while explaining the delay.Commission chairperson and former judge Madan Lal Bhati submitted the report at the CM’s residence.Govt is now expected to complete the reservation exercise through a district-wise lottery by Aug 15. The process will cover 14,403 gram panchayats and 10,245 wards across 309 urban local bodies.Based on the state’s estimated OBC population of 3.8 crore, around 2,500 sarpanch posts, nearly 1,750 councillor seats and 75-80 pradhan posts are likely to be reserved for OBC candidates, subject to the final govt notification.This will be the first time OBC reservation in Rajasthan’s panchayat and urban local body elections is based on a commission report. The commission’s review of past elections found OBC candidates had won nearly 40% of seats. It also noted that in areas with a high SC and ST population, particularly parts of Mewar and eastern Rajasthan, OBCs may not get the full benefit of the 21% reservation because of the existing reservation structure.The commission, constituted on May 9, 2025, was tasked with determining OBC political representation in line with judicial requirements. Its tenure was extended three times.
