BJP tightens grip on Rajasthan municipal bodies, wins losing battle in Pali

The mayoral results followed the urban body elections held on September 9 and 11, in which the BJP emerged as the largest party.

In Short

• Congress finishes third in Pali despite being largest party
• BJP's Namita Bubukia wins with 33 votes, aided by rebels, Independents
• BJP wins six of seven major Rajasthan municipal mayoral seats

The Congress suffered a major setback in Rajasthan’s Pali on Monday, finishing third in the mayoral election despite being the largest party in the municipal corporation, as most of its councillors backed a rebel candidate.

BJP candidate Namita Bubukia won the election with 33 votes, 12 more than the party’s strength in the corporation. Congress rebel Rajbala Hingad finished second with 29 votes, while the party’s official candidate received only three.

In the recently-concluded municipal polls, the Congress won 29 wards in Pali, the BJP 21 and Independents 15.

The Pali upset came as the BJP cemented its dominance over Rajasthan’s urban bodies by winning the mayoral contests in six of the seven major municipal corporations. It defeated the Congress in Alwar, Udaipur, Pali and Ajmer, while its candidates were elected unopposed in Bharatpur and Bhilwara.

BJP LEADS CONGRESS ACROSS STATE

In Udaipur, BJP candidate Paras Singhvi secured 55 votes against Congress nominee Dr Poonam Kanwar’s 25. An Independent received four votes, including two each from BJP and Congress corporators.

In Ajmer, the BJP’s Anamika Sharma was elected mayor with 43 votes, securing the support of 11 Independents. The Congress received 37 votes.

The AAP also registered a breakthrough, forming its first municipal council board in Rajasthan after Sheetal Rathore was elected chairperson in Baran.

Overall, the BJP formed boards in 199 urban bodies, including six municipal corporations, 31 municipal councils and 162 municipalities. The Congress secured 94 municipal bodies, while other parties and Independents won eight.

Of Rajasthan’s 309 urban bodies, elections to the top posts were held in 273 on Monday after 32 were decided unopposed. Elections in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota and Suket will be held on September 25.

MUNICIPAL POLLS IN RAJASTHAN

The mayor/chairperson elections followed the September 9 and 11 urban body polls, in which the BJP emerged as the largest party by winning 4,182 wards. The Congress secured 3,619, while Independents and candidates from other parties won 2,273.

The strong showing by Independents made their support crucial in the elections for mayors and chairpersons. Both the BJP and the Congress moved their councillors to hotels and resorts ahead of Monday’s voting to prevent defections and secure the backing of Independents.

Ahead of Monday’s voting, Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully accused the BJP government of detaining Congress councillors and preventing them from voting in some urban bodies.

He alleged that the BJP was using the police and administration in Rajasthan and neighbouring states to influence the elections.

- Ends