Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma Engages with Panchayati Raj Representatives in Jaipur

Jaipur, October 2: Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma held a dialogue with Panchayati Raj representatives at the Takshashila Auditorium in Maheshwari Public School, Jaipur. He emphasized that the first point of contact for the poor, laborers, farmers, and needy individuals in villages is the sarpanch. Therefore, it is the primary responsibility of Panchayati Raj representatives to ensure that government schemes reach the last person in line.

The event saw sarpanchs and other representatives joining both in person and via video conferencing from various district headquarters across the state. The Chief Minister shared his experiences from his tenure as a sarpanch, stating that strong and accountable gram panchayats can accelerate rural development.

During the discussions, various topics related to rural development, public service, and issues concerning the welfare of the community at the panchayat level were deliberated.

‘Strong Villages Lead to a Strong Rajasthan’

The Chief Minister stated that the gram panchayat is the smallest yet most robust unit of administration. He urged representatives to engage with villagers continuously and disseminate information about schemes to needy families. According to him, increasing transparency, accountability, and public participation in panchayats will enhance the impact of development initiatives. He also referenced Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas of Gram Swaraj and self-reliance.

‘One State, One Election’ Initiative

The Chief Minister announced that the state government is advancing the ‘One State, One Election’ initiative for local body and Panchayati Raj elections. In August 2026, the state cabinet approved a policy to conduct panchayat and urban body elections under a coordinated framework.

He explained that the aim is to reduce the time and resources spent on the electoral process while ensuring continuity in development activities. The final arrangements for the election schedule and its implementation fall under the jurisdiction of the state election commission.

This dialogue took place just before the state election commission’s press conference scheduled for Saturday, October 3, where the election timeline for the panchayat elections is expected to be announced.

Formation of New Panchayats and Committees

The Chief Minister revealed that under the restructuring of the Panchayati Raj system, eight new district councils, 94 new panchayat committees, and 3,467 new gram panchayats have been established. He also mentioned an increase in the honorarium for elected Panchayati Raj representatives, with a notification regarding the honorarium amendment issued by the Panchayati Raj department in March 2026.

These figures were shared by the Chief Minister in reference to the newly formed units. The total number of positions announced for the upcoming elections has been released based on different criteria.

Atal Knowledge Centers and Developed Village Campaign

The Chief Minister stated that the government is preparing a roadmap for village development through the ‘Chief Minister Developed Village-Urban Ward Campaign.’ Plans are also in place to establish Atal Knowledge Centers at the panchayat level, which will offer facilities like libraries, e-libraries, online coaching, and e-Mitra services.

He shared progress statistics related to employment, farmer assistance, social security, rural housing, roads, drinking water, and electricity, which were presented by the state government during the event.

Recognition for Outstanding Representatives

During the program, the Chief Minister honored representatives who have excelled in development work and innovation in various gram panchayats with commendation letters. Several sarpanchs shared their experiences and innovations implemented at the panchayat level.

The event was attended by Panchayati Raj Minister Madan Dilawar, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Avinash Gehlot, State Minister for Panchayati Raj Ota Ram Devasi, and MP Manju Sharma, along with legislators and Panchayati Raj representatives from across the state.

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Kuldeep Singh Chundawat: My name is Kuldeep Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.