The counting of votes for the Rajasthan local body elections is currently underway, revealing a significant political shift across the state. The results for 10 municipal corporations, 47 municipal councils, and 252 municipalities are being declared, covering more than 10,000 wards across 309 urban local bodies. As per the latest trends and results, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has established a dominant position in the majority of the regions, although the Congress party has delivered unexpected blows in certain high-profile constituencies.
Detailed Breakdown of the Election Results
In the battle for the 10 municipal corporations, the BJP is currently leading in 7, while the Congress is ahead in 2, and other candidates are leading in 1 corporation. The competition remains intense as the counting progresses for the 38889 candidates who contested these elections. In the 47 municipal councils, the BJP is leading in 21, the Congress in 16, and others in 7. On top of that, in the 252 municipalities, the BJP holds a lead in 109, followed by the Congress in 96, and others in 21. These figures indicate a strong support base for the BJP among urban voters and the youth, yet the Congress maintains a competitive presence in several districts.
Major Upsets in Political Strongholds
One of the most striking outcomes of this election is the result in Pali and Jhalawar. In Pali, which is considered the stronghold of BJP State President Madan Rathore, the Congress party has managed to secure a victory, marking a significant setback for the ruling party's state leadership. Similarly, in Jhalawar, the traditional bastion of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, the Congress has successfully formed the board in the municipal council. Out of the 45 wards in Jhalawar, the Congress won 29 seats, while the BJP was restricted to 13 seats. Another notable development is seen in the Baran Municipal Council, where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is showing a strong performance. In the results declared for 25 out of 60 wards in Baran, AAP has won 16 seats, the Congress 6, and the BJP only 3.
Voting Statistics and Phase Details
The elections were conducted in two phases on September 9 and September 11. The first phase covered 162 urban local bodies, while the second phase included 147 bodies. A total of 10167 wards were scheduled for voting, though 77 members were elected unopposed. 68 percent. According to the State Election Commission, out of 87,63,595 eligible voters in the second phase, 61,93,865 cast their votes. 03 percent. Despite some reports of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) malfunctions and issues with voter lists, the overall process was completed with high participation.
Political Allegations and Controversies
The election process wasn't without its share of political friction. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Gehlot raised serious concerns about the state of affairs in Rajasthan, claiming that the BJP government has failed to deliver any significant progress in the last two and a half years. On the other hand, the BJP filed a formal complaint with the District Election Officer in Jodhpur against Gehlot. The complaint alleged a violation of the Model Code of Conduct at the polling station in Ward 82 where Gehlot cast his vote. These allegations highlight the high stakes and the intense rivalry between the two major political parties in the state as they vie for control over local governance.