JAIPUR: The Model Code of Conduct (Aachar Sanhita) has come into force across rural Rajasthan from 3 PM on Saturday, October 3, 2026, following the Rajasthan State Election Commission’s announcement of the Panchayati Raj election programme. The move marks the formal beginning of the electoral process for Rajasthan’s rural local bodies.
The State Election Commission had scheduled a press conference at 3 PM on October 3 to announce the election programme. With the election schedule being brought into the public domain, the Aachar Sanhita has become applicable in the rural areas covered by the Panchayati Raj elections.
Panchayati Raj Elections to Cover Thousands of Rural Representatives
The upcoming elections will cover Rajasthan’s three-tier Panchayati Raj system, including Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads. Nearly 1.69 lakh representatives are expected to be elected through the process.
At the village level, elections will be held for sarpanch and ward panch positions across 14,403 Gram Panchayats. The process will also include elections for 8,245 Panchayat Samiti members and 1,403 Zila Parishad members. Subsequently, 457 Panchayat Samitis will elect pradhans, while 41 Zila Parishads will elect zila pramukhs.
The election process is expected to be conducted in multiple phases. Ballot papers are planned for elections to the posts of sarpanch and ward panch, while Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used for elections to Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad members.
Restrictions on Government Announcements and Campaigning
With the implementation of the Aachar Sanhita, political parties, candidates and government authorities will be required to follow election-related guidelines. The objective of the code is to ensure that the electoral process is conducted according to established rules and that government machinery is not used in a manner that could affect the election environment.
Campaign-related activities will also be governed by restrictions covering meetings, processions, posters, banners, vehicles and loudspeakers. The Rajasthan State Election Commission’s election rules prescribe specific requirements and permissions for campaign activities during Panchayat elections.
Administrative Machinery to Come Under Election Restrictions
The enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct will also affect the functioning of the administration in the rural areas covered by the elections. Government officials and departments will have to ensure that decisions and announcements comply with the election guidelines.
The move comes after preparations for the Panchayati Raj elections were accelerated in recent weeks. The State Election Commission has already issued several directions concerning polling stations, EVM randomisation, voter assistance facilities and appointment of election and polling agents.
With the announcement of the election programme, political activity in Rajasthan’s rural areas is expected to intensify. Candidates, political parties and local-level leaders will now move towards formal campaigning while election authorities prepare for the next stages of the Panchayati Raj election process.
The enforcement of the Aachar Sanhita will therefore mark an important phase in Rajasthan’s 2026 local election calendar, bringing the state’s rural administration and political activities under the framework of election regulations.
