Rajasthan ready for panchayat, civic polls, says Minister Kharra
Jaipur, May 23
Rajasthan Minister for Local Self-Government Jhabar Singh Kharra on Saturday said the state government is fully prepared to conduct panchayat and urban local body elections in line with the Rajasthan High Court's recent directions.
Kharra made the statement during the visit to Ajmer, where he laid the foundation stone for a convention centre near the Jhalkari Bai Memorial.
He said the government would extend full cooperation to the State Election Commission for holding the elections and assured that Ajmer's development would not face any shortage of funds.
Speaking to the media, Kharra said the responsibility for implementing the High Court's decision rests with the State Election Commission. He added that the government would fulfil every requirement sought by the Commission to ensure smooth conduct of the local body polls.
"The Election Commission has to study the High Court's directions and proceed accordingly. The government is fully prepared to conduct the elections," he said.
During the visit, Kharra, along with Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani, laid the foundation stone for a convention centre near the Science Park and Jhalkari Bai Memorial area. Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary was also present.
Equipped with world-class facilities, this modern convention center will have a seating capacity for approximately 1400 people. The campus will feature a high-level cafeteria, extensive parking arrangements, well-organised internal roads, a modern drainage system, a sturdy boundary wall, and attractive landscaping, which will elevate Ajmer's image of modernity and progress to new heights, Kharra said.
The Minister's remarks came a day after the Rajasthan High Court ruled that Panchayat and urban local body elections cannot be delayed indefinitely.
The court extended the deadline for completing the election process until July 31, but made it clear that polls cannot be postponed merely due to the pending OBC Commission report.
The High Court also directed the State Election Commission to complete ward delimitation and voter list revision for urban local bodies by June 20.
It warned that officials would be held personally responsible for any further delays in voter list revision.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great to see development in Ajmer! A modern convention centre with 1400 seats will boost tourism and local business. But elections are also crucial—hope the government stays committed to both. Arre, panchayats are the backbone of rural democracy!
Kharra ji saying "government is fully prepared" but we've heard that before. The real test is if the SEC actually gets the cooperation it needs. High Court had to step in, which shows something was lacking. Let's see action now. 🤞
This balancing act between development and elections is classic Indian politics. On one hand, we get world-class facilities; on the other, we need timely local body polls. Hope the OBC reservation issue is resolved fairly before voting happens. Every vote matters!
Good progress in Ajmer, but I wish the Minister had addressed the ward delimitation challenges in urban areas more directly. The June 20 deadline is tight. Officials should be held accountable—last-mile delays always hurt the common man. 😕
Elections cannot be postponed indefinitely—absolutely right! Panchayats are keystone of our governance. But the OBC issue is sensitive. Hope the SEC and government work together without politicisation. Ajmer's convention centre sounds nice, but let's not forget the voter lists first.
K < We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.