Rajasthan’s urban local body election results have placed the BJP ahead of Congress statewide, while several unexpected victories have made the civic polls politically significant. The BJP won 4,179 wards, compared with 3,613 for Congress, but the opposition party secured important victories in several key municipal bodies.

Independents also played a major role, winning 2,273 wards across the state and emerging as the decisive group in Bharatpur.

BJP Leads Statewide, Congress Wins Key Civic Bodies

The BJP secured clear majorities in four of Rajasthan’s 10 municipal corporations. Congress, however, managed to establish control in Bikaner Municipal Corporation and delivered a major upset in Jhalawar, an area long associated with BJP politics.

Other parties also made an impact. Rashtriya Loktantrik Party won 63 wards, Aam Aadmi Party secured 42, CPI(M) won 38, BSP took 19 and Bharat Adivasi Party won eight wards.

Results for most wards were declared by Monday evening, although counting problems delayed the mayor and deputy mayor elections in several civic bodies.

Mayor Elections Postponed After EVM Problems

The Rajasthan State Election Commission postponed mayor and deputy mayor elections in Jodhpur, Kota, Jaipur and Suket after technical problems affected the counting process.

Officials said counting could not be completed in some wards because of EVM malfunctions. Further details were expected from the election authorities.

By 9:18 pm, results had been declared for 10,204 of the 10,244 wards where counting was underway.

Independents Dominate Bharatpur

Bharatpur produced one of the biggest surprises of the Rajasthan civic elections. Independents won 36 of the 65 wards, putting them well ahead of the BJP and Congress.

The BJP won 20 wards, while Congress secured seven. BSP and RLP won one ward each.

No major party reached the majority mark, meaning Independent councillors are likely to have a decisive role in forming the municipal board and determining the next mayor.

The result has added political interest because Bharatpur is associated with Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. Sharma credited public support for the BJP and its central leadership while responding to the election outcome.

Congress Delivers Jhalawar Upset

Jhalawar emerged as a major success for Congress. The party won 29 of the 45 seats in Jhalawar Nagar Parishad, giving it a clear majority.

The BJP secured 13 seats, leaving Congress in a strong position to form the municipal board. The result is particularly significant because Jhalawar has traditionally been considered a strong area for the BJP.

Congress also performed strongly in Tonk, winning 32 of the 59 wards where elections were held. The BJP won 19 and Independents eight.

BJP and Congress Split Key Jodhpur Wards

Jodhpur produced an unusual result involving prominent political leaders. The BJP won the home ward associated with Ashok Gehlot, while Congress won the home ward linked to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

The outcome gave both parties reasons to highlight victories while also showing that traditional political strongholds faced competition at the local level.

AAP Makes Breakthrough in Baran

Aam Aadmi Party recorded one of its strongest performances in Rajasthan’s civic polls in Baran. AAP won 31 of the 60 seats, securing a clear majority.

Congress finished with 18 seats and the BJP with nine. The result allows AAP to form the municipal board independently and represents a significant expansion for the party in Rajasthan’s urban politics.

BJP Leads in Jaipur, Kota and Udaipur

The BJP maintained strong positions in several major cities. In Jaipur, the party won 78 of the 146 declared wards, compared with 53 for Congress and 15 for Independents.

In Kota, BJP secured 54 of the 96 declared wards, while Congress won 38 and Independents four.

Udaipur also remained strongly in the BJP column, with the party winning 53 of the 80 wards. Congress secured 23.

Congress, meanwhile, performed strongly in Ajmer and Bikaner. Congress won 37 wards in Ajmer against 32 for BJP, while Bikaner gave Congress 42 wards compared with 27 for BJP.

Read more: BJP to Review Bankipur and Datia Defeats, Says Nitin Nabin After Bypoll Results

Rajasthan Civic Polls Show Mixed Political Picture

The overall Rajasthan civic election results give the BJP the position of the single-largest party, but Congress has demonstrated that it can challenge the ruling party in important urban centres.

Strong Independent performances in Bharatpur and other areas, along with AAP’s breakthrough in Baran, have added another layer to the political picture.

The postponed mayor and deputy mayor elections in four civic bodies could further shape the final balance of power in Rajasthan’s urban local governments.