Rajasthan civic elections conclude second phase of urban local body polls

The second and final phase of the 2026 Rajasthan urban local body elections concluded on Friday, covering 147 civic bodies including six municipal corporations, 20 municipal councils, and 121 municipalities. The second phase saw approximately 8.76 million eligible voters participating across 9,758 polling stations to decide the fate of 18,266 candidates.

In the second phase alone, voter turnout was recorded at 70.68 percent, bringing the total combined turnout for both phases to 72.95 percent. Notable turnout was seen in Dhorimanna, while Udaipur Municipal Corporation recorded the lowest initial turnout. Some polling stations reported electronic voting machine (EVM) glitches, leading to localized disruptions.

Political leaders from both major parties participated in the process. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari urged citizens to exercise their franchise to strengthen urban development. 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 expressed confidence in a significant victory for the BJP. During the polling process in Jaipur, some protesters raised slogans regarding the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) near a polling station visited by the Deputy Chief Minister.