BJP sweeps Rajasthan local polls, wins 31 out of 46 municipal bodies

Claims majority in five corpns, leads in 22 municipalities

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party continues its wining streak in Rajasthan by claiming full majority in five out of six municipal corporations and taking the lead in 18 municipal councils and 22 municipalities.

Out of 46 local bodies, Congress could lead only in seven municipalities while at many places it failed to open its account. BJP got a clear mandate in 31 local bodies, including Jaipur.

In Bharatpur Municipal Corporation, BJP and Congress were somewhat at par, but 20 independent candidates emerged victorious and may play spoilsport for Congress.

Since BJP is the ruling party, chances are fair that BJP may manage to take the independent candidates. The Bharatpur Municipal Corporation has 50 seats, of which BJP got 18 and Congress 11 seats.

In Jaipur, BJP won 65 wards out of 91. Other municipal corporations where BJP will form its board and select its mayor include Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner and Kota. In Bikaner Municipal Corporation, BJP won 35 of the 60 wards, while Congress rested on 16.

In Udaipur, BJP won 49 of the 55 wards and in Kota BJP won 57 of the 65 wards. At places like Pilani and Sangod in Jhunjhunu and Kota districts respectively, Congress could not even open its account.

Cong accepts defeat
Accepting defeat, Rajasthan Congess chief Sachin Pilot said people have voted considering the BJP government in the state and the centre.

“We respect the mandate. People voted in favour of the ruling party so that local issues are not neglected. But hard work of Congress will not go waste, and we are now focusing on panchayati raj elections due in January,” Pilot said.

But supporters of Pilot came out openly against the senior Congress leadership.
Several Congress leaders close to Sachin alleged that senior party leaders did not cooperate in the local body elections, due to which Congress suffered badly.

“In Kota, we had two ministers from the previous Congress government. In Jodhpur, the home turf of former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, we lost terribly. Same was the fate in Alwar and Udaipur. Leaders like Ashok Gehlot, C P Joshi, Bhanwar Jeetendra Singh and many others preferred to stay out of these elections even in their respective districts,” a senior Congress legislator close to Pilot said.

BJP leaders said the victory in the local body elections is the result of hard work of the Vasundhara Raje government.

 “People are so much annoyed with Congress leaders and their previous government that they do not want Congress even in local body elections. The BJP government in
Rajasthan has done a commendable job and results are the testimony to it,” state
BJP president Ashok Parnami said.