Rajasthan civic polls: BJP leads but Opposition is not far behind; Independents steal show

The ruling BJP increased its lead over the Congress in the Rajasthan urban local body elections on Monday (September 14), winning 3,587 wards against the opposition party's 3,050 as results for more than 8,700 wards were declared.

Mixed picture

The verdict in key municipal corporations presented a mixed picture.

The BJP secured a clear majority in the 80-member Udaipur Municipal Corporation by winning 53 wards. The Congress won 23, Independents three, and the CPI(M) one.

The Congress emerged victorious in Ajmer and Pali. In Ajmer, of its 80 wards, Congress won 37, BJP 32, and Independents 11.

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In the 65-ward Pali Nagar Nigam, Congress won 29, while BJP won 21 and Independents won 15. Pali is the hometown of BJP state president Madan Rathore.

Bharatpur threw up an anomalous picture as Independents won or led in 36 of its 65 wards, compared to the BJP's 20 and Congress's seven. The BSP and RLP won one each. Bharatpur is Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma's hometown.

Hung corporation in Jodhpur

Jodhpur has produced a hung corporation, with BJP and Congress tied at 45 seats each and Independents, with 9 seats, holding the balance of power.

This is particularly significant because Jodhpur was expected to be a major test of the BJP's urban strength, while Congress had hoped to retain its influence in the home turf of former chief minister Ashok Gehlot.

AAP, CPI(M) gain at Congress’s expense

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and CPI(M) emerged as alternatives to the BJP in two municipal bodies.

AAP secured a majority in the Baran Municipal Council winning 31 of the 60 wards. The Congress secured 18 seats and the BJP nine, while Independents won two. An AAP candidate is expected to become council president.

The CPI(M) registered an even more emphatic victory in Nokha Nagar Palika in Bikaner district, winning 29 of the 45 wards. The BJP won 13 seats and Independents three, while the Congress drew a blank, paving the way for the Left party to form the municipal board.

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CPI(M) state secretary Kishan Parikh attributed the victory to public anger against the BJP and the party’s sustained campaign on civic and economic issues.

The CPI(M) fielded 192 candidates across Rajasthan, with around 40 winning on Monday. Parikh said even victories in a few wards could help the party establish a longer-term presence in local bodies.

Strong performance by independents

Independents put up a strong performance across the state, winning 2,024 wards, emerging as a potentially decisive force in several urban bodies.

Of the 10,244 wards for which counting was held, results for 8,822 were declared till 2.15 pm. In all, the BJP won 3,587 wards, Congress 3,050, Independents 2,024, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) 56, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) 42, CPI(M) 40, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) 15, and Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) eight.

Repolling at one booth in Jaipur will be held on September 11.

The elections are being seen as an important political test for the Sharma-led BJP government and the opposition Congress ahead of the 2028 Assembly polls.

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Polling for the 309 urban local bodies happened in two phases on September 9 and 11. A total of 10,245 councillors are to be elected in 10 municipal corporations, 51 municipal councils, and 248 municipalities. More than 1.44 crore voters were eligible to exercise their franchise.

In the municipal election cycle held between November 2019 and February 2021, Rajasthan had 196 urban local bodies comprising 7,500 wards. After the elections for mayors and chairpersons, the Congress controlled 123 of the 196 urban bodies and the BJP 64, while Independents and other parties headed nine.

Mayors and chairpersons will be elected on September 21, followed by deputy mayors, deputy chairpersons, and municipal vice-presidents on September 22.

(With agency inputs)