Rajasthan municipal elections: Congress makes a stunning comeback
Results from Rajasthan's municipal elections reveal strong opposition against the BJP in the state.
The results of the municipal elections in Rajasthan have made it clear that the BJP is facing significant opposition in the state. The party is encountering defeats in several city municipal elections, while the Congress camp is celebrating with joy.
In Bikaner, where Congress has emerged as the largest party, the party has also turned the tables on the BJP in Jaipur. In urban areas, which were once strongholds for the BJP, the party has not performed well. A tough contest was witnessed between the BJP and Congress in Jaipur. In the results of the Ajmer Municipal Corporation elections, Congress has performed better, winning in 37 out of 80 wards, while BJP candidates won in 32 wards. Independents won in 11 seats. Neither party has achieved a majority, making independents the kingmakers.
The results of the Ajmer municipal elections have dealt a severe blow to the BJP. The party has held the board here for the past 36 years. The reputations of Speaker Vasudev Devnani and Anita Bhadel from Ajmer city were at stake. Despite this, the Congress has outperformed the party this time. The majority figure for the board is 41. Congress needs 4 more candidates to form the board, while the BJP requires 7. Both parties will make significant efforts to bring independents into their fold.
In the Jaipur Municipal Corporation, the BJP has achieved a majority, winning in 77 wards. The counting of votes for the 150 wards in the Jaipur Municipal Corporation is ongoing. Congress has secured 48 seats, and independents have won 14 seats. It appears that the BJP will form the board.
Meanwhile, a significant defeat for the BJP has come from Ward 110, where former Jaipur Mayor Jyoti Khandelwal faced Congress's Sunita Meethi. Sunita is the wife of the previous councillor Arvind Meethi. Sunita Meethi defeated her, with Jyoti Khandelwal not winning a single booth.
In the Jodhpur Municipal Corporation, results for 99 out of 100 wards have been declared. A tough contest was observed between the BJP and Congress, with both parties winning in 44 wards, while independents emerged victorious in 11 wards. Re-polling is to be held at booth number 338 in Ward 50, leading to the counting in this ward being halted. The result for Ward 50 will be announced only after the re-polling.
In the Rajasthan municipal elections, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma's 'storm' has faltered in his home district of Bharatpur. Congress has won in all 6 municipalities of Bharatpur - Bayana, Nadbai, Uchchain, Bhusawar, Bair, and Roopwas. The BJP has suffered a severe defeat in the Bharatpur municipal elections.
The BJP has faced a major setback in the stronghold of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. In the counting of votes for the 45 wards of the Jhalawar Municipal Council, Congress has achieved a majority. Here, the BJP could win only 13 seats, while Congress secured a majority with victories in 29 wards. Additionally, one candidate from the Aam Aadmi Party and two independents also won.
In the Kanota municipality elections, Congress has received a clear majority. Congress won in 11 wards, the BJP in 6, and independents in 3 wards. In Ward number 2, a tie between the independent and Congress candidates led to a lottery being drawn, resulting in the independent candidate's victory.
In 12 out of 18 municipalities in Jaipur, a fractured mandate has been observed. Here, independents will become the kingmakers. In the municipalities of Shahpura, Bagaru, Bassi, Chaksu, Dudu, Jobner, Kishangarh Renwal, Manoharpur, Phagi, Phulera, Sambhar, and Vatika in Jaipur district, neither party has achieved a majority.
Following the election results, political activity has intensified regarding the board formation in Bikaner. The BJP has won in 13 wards, while Congress has secured victories in 17 wards. The RLP has won in 1 ward, and independents have won in 5 wards. Independents may play a significant role in board formation.
The most interesting and shocking result has come from Ward number 13 of the Parbatser municipality in Didwana district. The BJP candidate Kailash Chand received only 1 vote. Notably, even family members and supporters did not vote for him. In the same ward, NOTA also received 1 vote, resulting in a tie between the BJP candidate and NOTA. Congress's Hina Khanam won from Parbatser municipality by a margin of 376 votes.
Political analysts believe that the BJP suffered the most damage in the municipal elections due to the UGC law. The party faced a significant defeat in urban areas due to its anti-upper caste mentality.
In Jaipur, both major parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, have claimed to form their boards with a full majority. However, the strong presence of independents and rebel candidates in several wards has made the contest extremely interesting. The district election commission is announcing results in a phased manner through 15 control rooms and over 150 tables.
Meanwhile, amidst the countdown to the official announcement of the counting and results, major resorts in Jaipur have become the focal point of political battles. After the voting concluded, Congress and BJP candidates sent to barricaded areas are not only being monitored but are also receiving training for the political equations that will emerge immediately after the results. Senior leaders have advised Congress candidates staying at a resort in Bassi to stay united and avoid temptations, while BJP candidates at a luxurious hotel in Bagaru were shown the film 'Hanuman Ansh' and engaged in games to relieve stress.
Both parties are claiming victory, but the real question behind this siege from the counting site to board formation is whether both parties can protect their factions from rebellion and infiltration after the results are announced?