- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Fri, 20 Jun 2025 08:30 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The State Election Commission of Bihar has announced that the reservation cycle for the posts of Mukhiya and Sarpanch will be revised in the upcoming Panchayat General Elections in 2026, by the provisions of the Bihar Panchayati Raj Act, 2006 and Panchayat Election Rules.
As per the rules, the reservation for these posts is subject to change after every two general panchayat elections. The commission clarified this in response to a complaint filed by Vikas Chaurasia, a resident of Patedha Panchayat in Siwan district, who had requested a reservation for the posts in his panchayat due to a high population of Extremely Backwards Classes (EBCs) in the area.
According to the Act, reservation in panchayats is provided to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Backwards Classes, ensuring that the share of reserved posts reflects the demographic composition of each Panchayat Samiti. For the post of Mukhiya, the number of reserved seats for SCs and STs is proportionate to their population within the block. After this, 20 per cent of the remaining seats are reserved for EBCs.
The current reservation structure was implemented in the 2016 and 2021 panchayat elections, following a shift in the reservation cycle that had remained unchanged during the 2006 and 2011 polls. The 2026 elections will witness another change in this cycle, and the reservation pattern for leadership posts will be revised accordingly.
The commission has reiterated its commitment to conducting the 2026 elections as per the new reservation cycle, in line with statutory provisions, to ensure fair representation for marginalised communities.