📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Yann (talk)
Politics
OBC Candidates Lead Rajasthan Municipal Elections as ST Women Candidates Hit Record Low
✍️ Amar Ujala · Rajasthan
🗓 05 Sep 2026, 07:27 PM
👁 21
Out of 38,929 candidates contesting in 309 urban bodies across Rajasthan, OBC aspirants account for about 47%, while only 558 ST women have filed nominations, the lowest among categories.
The Rajasthan municipal elections saw a total of 38,929 candidates filing nominations across 309 urban local bodies. Data released by the state election authority shows that candidates belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) make up roughly 47 percent of the total pool, indicating a strong presence in the urban electoral landscape.
In contrast, the representation of Scheduled Tribe (ST) women candidates is markedly low. Only 558 women from ST communities have entered the fray, the smallest figure among all social categories. Analysts note that this disparity highlights ongoing challenges in encouraging political participation among tribal women at the grassroots level.
Election officials have emphasized that the high number of candidates reflects vibrant democratic engagement, but they also urge political parties and civil society groups to address the gender and community gaps evident in the nomination data.
The upcoming polls, scheduled for later this month, will determine the composition of municipal councils that manage local services and development projects across Rajasthan's towns and cities.
In contrast, the representation of Scheduled Tribe (ST) women candidates is markedly low. Only 558 women from ST communities have entered the fray, the smallest figure among all social categories. Analysts note that this disparity highlights ongoing challenges in encouraging political participation among tribal women at the grassroots level.
Election officials have emphasized that the high number of candidates reflects vibrant democratic engagement, but they also urge political parties and civil society groups to address the gender and community gaps evident in the nomination data.
The upcoming polls, scheduled for later this month, will determine the composition of municipal councils that manage local services and development projects across Rajasthan's towns and cities.