Rajasthan Panchayat polls were marred by violence in several districts during the third phase, with one youth killed, candidates injured and police using force to contain clashes over alleged bogus voting. Polling for 3,716 sarpanch and 34,218 ward panch posts took place across 27 districts, with 82.3% turnout recorded till 6pm, according to the report by the Times of India.
More than 1.06 crore voters were eligible to vote in the phase. The fatal incident occurred in Delsar village of Nawalgarh in Jhunjhunu district on Wednesday night, when supporters of two sarpanch candidates allegedly attacked each other with sticks. A youth from Hoshiarpur in Punjab was killed and two others were injured. Police seized several vehicles and detained some people for questioning, while the injured were referred to a higher medical centre.
In Sikar district, sarpanch candidate Arun Pareek was allegedly assaulted in Bhojya Ki Dhani panchayat by rival candidate Kishor Kumar Kumawat and around 50 supporters. Pareek suffered injuries to his neck and other parts of his body and was admitted to SK Hospital. His wife, Rajni, alleged that Kumawat had threatened him earlier in the day, that the attackers broke his gold chain and that they also attempted to assault her. The allegations have not been independently established in the supplied report.
Another confrontation took place in Chitalwana, Jalore, after supporters of a sarpanch candidate accused a rival of facilitating bogus voting. The dispute escalated when some people allegedly entered a polling booth and attempted to disrupt voting. Police used a lathi charge to disperse the groups and detained 12 people.
Similar protests were reported from Bhupalsagar gram panchayat in Chittorgarh, where villagers were dispersed after the returning officer reached the spot. In Ratanpur gram panchayat under Nohar panchayat samiti in Hanumangarh, supporters of sarpanch candidates also clashed. In Sami village of Sikar, police and the Dhod sub-divisional magistrate intervened after a youth allegedly pelted stones at a passing vehicle. Police said the vehicle belonged to an outsider and that the matter was under investigation.
The incidents highlight the security and administrative pressures surrounding elections for village-level bodies, where contests determine local representation and influence access to panchayat administration. Allegations of bogus voting placed polling officials and police at the centre of disputes at multiple locations, requiring intervention to keep voting areas operational.
Polling for the sarpanch post was not held in Ludi Jhabar gram panchayat under Rajgarh panchayat samiti in Churu because the sole nomination was rejected and no eligible Scheduled Tribe candidate was available in the village. Voting took place for the remaining three ward panch posts, while four of the seven candidates had already been elected unopposed.
The authorities’ immediate response included detentions, vehicle seizures, police dispersal operations and on-site intervention by senior local officials. Investigations into the death, alleged assaults, stone-pelting and claims of bogus voting were continuing, according to the report.
