Batadu Records Highest Turnout as Rajasthan Votes 64.32%

Batadu Panchayat Samiti in Barmer district recorded the highest voter turnout of 78.30 percent in the second phase of Rajasthan's Panchayati Raj general elections 2026. Overall turnout stood at 64.32 percent by 6 PM on Wednesday.

The lowest figure came from Desuri Panchayat Samiti in Pali district, where 49.11 percent of voters cast their ballots.

Polling started at 7 AM in 22 zilla parishads and 124 panchayat samitis, spread across 2,549 wards. Several polling stations remained open after 6 PM to accommodate long queues of voters.

This phase featured 352 zilla parishad wards and 2,197 panchayat samiti wards, with 8,404 candidates competing. Votes have been recorded in EVMs and the results will be decided accordingly.

In Barmer, seven panchayat samitis together logged 72.08 percent turnout. Of the district's 3,53,235 eligible voters, 2,54,627 exercised their franchise. The Barmer Panchayat Samiti itself posted 64.87 percent.

Though voter enthusiasm was high, technical glitches in some EVMs temporarily halted voting at certain locations. Approximately 30,000 machines were deployed across 11,799 polling stations.

During the process, 105 ballot boxes and 71 control units were reportedly damaged, which temporarily affected voting. The situation returned to normal afterward.

In Bikaner's Ganpatsinghpura 4 MM area, villagers staged a dharna outside a polling station when they found its main gate locked. In Pali's Rohat area, residents of Umkali village boycotted the polls, seeking a separate gram panchayat.

In other areas, voting was held peacefully amid heavy security and administrative oversight. Officials and police reached polling stations to review arrangements and ensure law and order.

The second phase is part of Rajasthan's ongoing panchayati raj electoral process, through which voters choose representatives of local governance bodies. Panch and sarpanch elections are scheduled for Thursday.