BJP Beats Congress in Rajasthan Urban Local Body Polls With 4,179 Wards

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged ahead of the opposition Congress in Rajasthan’s urban local body elections, according to results declared by the State Election Commission as reported by The Indian Express. Out of 10,244 wards across 309 urban local bodies, the BJP won 4,179 wards, while the Congress secured 3,613 according to News18.

BJP Leads in Rajasthan Urban Local Body Elections

The two-phase polling took place on September 9 and 11, with more than 1.44 crore voters eligible to exercise their franchise as detailed by NDTV. Vote counting was conducted on September 14 noted The Hindu.

Performance Across Municipal Corporations and Councils

The elections covered 309 urban local bodies comprising 10 municipal corporations, 51 municipal councils, and 248 municipalities according to NDTV. The BJP secured clear majorities in four of the state’s 10 municipal corporations—specifically Jaipur, Udaipur, Bhilwara, and Kota reported The Indian Express. In Jaipur’s 150 wards, the BJP won 78, crossing the simple majority mark, while Congress secured 53 and Independents won 15 noted News18.

BJP Beats Congress in Rajasthan Urban Local Body Polls With 4,179 Wards — Photo: news18.com

The Congress secured a majority in the Bikaner Municipal Corporation noted NDTV by winning 42 of 80 wards against the BJP’s 27 reported News18. In Jodhpur, both the BJP and Congress won 44 of 100 wards, resulting in a deadlock stated News18. Both rivals also fell short of the halfway mark in Alwar, Ajmer, and Pali municipal corporations noted The Indian Express.

Across 47 municipal councils, the BJP secured majorities in 12 bodies, while the Congress crossed the halfway mark in six and the AAP in one reported The Indian Express. In 252 municipalities, the BJP won 70 and the Congress won 39 indianexpress.com.

Strong Performance by Independents and Smaller Parties

Independents emerged as a major force, winning 2,273 wards reported NDTV. Other smaller parties also registered notable tallies: the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) won 63 wards, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured 42, the CPI(M) won 38, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won 19, and the Bharat Adivasi Party won 8 noted The Indian Express.

In Bharatpur—the hometown of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma—Independents dominated by winning 36 of the 65 wards, while the BJP managed 20 and the Congress won 7 reported NDTV. Similarly, in Pali, the home turf of BJP state president Madan Rathore, Congress bagged 29 of 65 wards compared to the BJP’s 21 and Independents’ 15 stated The Indian Express. Congress also achieved a notable victory in Jhalawar, winning 29 of 45 wards in the municipal council against the BJP’s 13 noted NDTV.

Reactions and Notable Electoral Incidents

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the outcome on social media, expressing gratitude to the public for a resounding victory reported The Indian Express. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma stated the results were a stamp of approval on the government’s work over the past two-and-a-half years noted The Indian Express.

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Conversely, Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra claimed that the BJP’s winning margins thinned and blamed an unfair ward delimitation for narrow losses reported NDTV.

Among individual results, BJP candidate Kailashchand in Ward 13 of the Parbatsar municipality received only one vote reported The Hindu. Kailashchand noted that his own voter registration was in neighbouring Ward 12, explaining that someone from Ward 13 cast a vote for him stated The Times of India.

Elections for newly elected mayors and chairpersons are scheduled for September 21, followed by deputy positions on September 22 noted News18.