Jaipur: The second phase of polling for Rajasthan’s Urban Local Body elections will be held on Friday, as the State Election Commission moves ahead with the next phase of the polls being conducted under the ‘One State, One Election’ initiative.
The first phase of polling, held on September 9, was completed peacefully across 162 Urban Local Bodies, with an overall voter turnout of 76.41 per cent. The elections to 309 Urban Local Bodies in Rajasthan, including 10 Municipal Corporations, 47 Municipal Councils and 252 Municipalities, are being conducted in two phases.
A total of 5,393 wards went to polls in the first phase. Of the 57,52,280 registered voters, 43,95,488 voters exercised their franchise, resulting in a voter turnout of 76.41 per cent.
The first phase covered 4 Municipal Corporations, 27 Municipal Councils and 131 Municipalities.
A total of 7,683 polling booths were established for the first phase, with 20,623 candidates in the electoral contest.
The State Election Commission said polling for the member posts in all 162 Urban Local Bodies was conducted peacefully.
The highest voter turnout in the first phase was recorded in Arnod Nagar Palika of Pratapgarh, where polling percentage reached 91.98 per cent.
The high turnout reflected strong voter participation in the Urban Local Body elections. The lowest voter turnout was recorded in Bhilwara Nagar Nigam. The Municipal Corporation has 70 wards and a total of 2,96,682 registered voters. Of these, 1,89,390 voters cast their votes, resulting in a turnout of 63.84 per cent.
The first phase also included 73 newly constituted Urban Local Bodies, where elections were being held for the first time. The remaining 89 Urban Local Bodies had witnessed general elections previously.
In the last general elections held in these 89 bodies, voter turnout stood at 74.76 per cent. The 76.41 per cent turnout recorded in the first phase of the 2026 elections is higher than the turnout recorded in the previous general elections in these 89 Urban Local Bodies. With the first phase completed, attention now turns to the second and final phase of polling on September 11.
The State Election Commission has completed preparations for the second phase, with polling arrangements being put in place across the Urban Local Bodies going to the polls.
The elections form part of the statewide exercise to conduct Urban Local Body polls under the ‘One State, One Election’ framework.
The Commission has reiterated its focus on ensuring that polling is conducted peacefully, transparently and in an orderly manner.
Following completion of polling in both phases, the electoral process will proceed towards the counting of votes and subsequent stages of the Urban Local Body elections as per the notified schedule.
(IANS)
