Rajasthan civic elections: Second phase of voting begins

The second and final phase of the 2026 Rajasthan urban local body elections commenced on September 11. This phase covers 147 civic bodies, including six municipal corporations, 20 municipal councils, and 121 municipalities. Approximately 8,760,884 voters are eligible to cast ballots across 9,758 polling stations to decide the fate of 18,266 candidates.

In Jaipur, polling involves 150 wards with over 2.4 million voters. Early reports indicated a voter turnout of approximately 20.51% by 10:00 AM, with Dhorimanna municipality recording the highest turnout and Udaipur Municipal Corporation the lowest. Some electronic voting machine (EVM) glitches were reported in Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, and Pushkar.

Political leaders have actively participated in the process. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot cast his vote in Jodhpur, expressing hope for a Congress victory and criticizing the current administration. Conversely, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed confidence in the BJP, with Shekhawat predicting a resounding victory based on development-focused politics. Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari also urged citizens to exercise their fundamental right to vote.