BJP won Rajasthan urban local body elections with 4,179 wards, Congress secured 3,613. Independents won 2,273 wards.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the largest party in Rajasthan’s urban local body elections on Monday, winning 4,179 wards against the Congress’ 3,613.
The BJP secured clear majorities in four of the state’s 10 municipal corporations, while the Congress won a majority in Bikaner. Independents, meanwhile, emerged as a strong third force, winning 2,273 wards.
The results were particularly striking in Bharatpur, the hometown of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. Independents won 36 of the 65 wards, well ahead of the BJP’s 20 and Congress’ seven. The BSP and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) won one ward each. Sharma called the BJP’s overall performance a “historic victory”, attributing it to public faith in the party and the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
BJP Takes Four Corporations
The BJP crossed the majority mark in Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota and Bhilwara. In Jaipur, it won 78 of the 150 wards, while Congress secured 53 and Independents 15. In Udaipur, the BJP won 53 of 80 wards against Congress’ 23. It also secured 45 of 70 wards in Bhilwara and 55 of 100 in Kota.
Congress, however, secured a majority in Bikaner, winning 42 of 80 wards against the BJP’s 27. Jodhpur produced a deadlock, with both BJP and Congress winning 44 of the 100 wards.
Congress emerged as the largest party in Ajmer and Pali but fell short of a majority. In Ajmer, it won 37 of 80 wards, while BJP secured 32. In Pali, Congress won 29 of 65 wards against BJP’s 21.
Congress Springs Jhalawar Surprise
One of Congress’ biggest gains came in Jhalawar, widely seen as a stronghold of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje. Congress won 29 of the 45 wards, while BJP secured 13. However, BJP retained its grip on nearby Jhalrapatan, where Raje is the sitting MLA, winning 22 of 35 wards.
In Alwar, BJP emerged as the largest party with 28 wards, followed by Congress with 23 and Independents with 13.
According to State Election Commission figures, results for 10,235 of the 10,244 wards being counted had been declared by 8.30 pm. The RLP won 63 wards, AAP 42, CPI(M) 38, BSP 19 and Bharat Adivasi Party eight.