Jaipur, July 9 -- The Rajasthan State Election Commission (SEC) has told the state government that conducting elections to Panchayati Raj institutions and Urban Local Bodies by the July 31 deadline set by the Rajasthan High Court is not feasible, citing the pending process of OBC reservation. According to a July 7 letter, sent in response to the Panchayati Raj Department's communication of July 3, the State Election Commission said the Other Backward Classes (OBC) Commission is expected to submit its report on reservation in Panchayati Raj institutions to the state government by August 14. Based on the report, the Panchayati Raj Department is expected to complete the reservation exercise for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), OBCs and women by August 31. The Commission said it can begin the election process only after receiving the final reservation matrix. It estimated that conducting elections for both Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies would take around 90 days, including public and state holidays, after the reservation exercise is completed. On May 22, the Rajasthan High Court had directed the State Election Commission to complete elections to Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies by July 31. However, with the OBC reservation process still pending, the Commission has indicated that complying with the court's timeline is unlikely. The delay has again become the subject of litigation before the High Court. Former Sirohi MLA and Congress leader Sanyam Lodha has filed a contempt petition on Monday, contending that the elections cannot be deferred merely because the OBC Commission's report has not been finalised. The petition alleges that the authorities have failed to implement the High Court's directions within the stipulated period and names senior IAS officers of the State Election Commission, the Panchayati Raj Department and the Department of Local Self-Government as respondents. According to the SEC, for Panchayati Raj elections, filing nomination papers, scrutiny, withdrawal of nominations, and allotment of election symbols for Panchayati Raj elections would take around 15 days from the issuance of the election notification. For Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad elections, a minimum gap of seven days is required between the last date for withdrawal of nominations and polling. Taking all necessary preparations into account, polling is expected to take place around 25 days after the notification is issued. If re-polling becomes necessary at any polling station, an additional three days may be required....