The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 4,179 of 10,244 wards in Rajasthan’s urban local body elections, outpacing the Congress’s 3,613. The BJP secured majorities in four of the state’s 10 municipal corporations, while independents captured 2,273 wards, notably dominating Bharatpur with 36 of 65 seats. Results were announced after 10,235 wards had been counted.
In Jaipur the BJP won 78 of 150 wards, the Congress 53 and Independents 15. Udaipur saw the BJP take 53 of 80 wards, the Congress 23, Independents three and CPI(M) one. Bhilwara was won by the BJP with 45 of 70 wards; in Kota the BJP secured 55 of 100 seats. Bikaner was a Congress win with 42 of 80 wards, the BJP 27. Jodhpur split evenly with 44 each, while Ajmer, Pali, Alwar and Jhalawar produced mixed results.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma called the BJP’s performance a historic victory, citing its outreach model. BJP state president Madan Rathore thanked voters. Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra said the BJP’s margin had narrowed, blaming an “unfair” delimitation and alleging misuse of government machinery and police.
The elections covered 309 urban local bodies—10 municipal corporations, 51 municipal councils and 248 municipalities—across 10,244 wards. More than 1.44 crore voters participated in the two‑phase polling on September 9 and 11. After the polls, Congress controlled 123 of the 196 bodies, the BJP 64, with independents and others heading nine. Mayors will be elected on September 21.
A few candidates received only a single vote, such as BJP’s Kailashchand in Ward 13 of Parbatsar municipality, who said he was fielded in the wrong ward. Congress candidate Hina Khanam won the same ward with 376 votes, while independent Rashid Khan received 195. Some RLP contenders received no votes and alleged foul play, citing restricted access to polling agents.
