Jaipur: The BJP secured the mayoral post in Pali on Monday despite Congress emerging as the largest party in the 65-member municipal corporation. BJP candidate Namita Bubukia won with 33 votes, while Congress rebel Rajbala Hingad received 29. The official Congress candidate got only three votes.
Congress had won 29 wards in Pali, compared with 21 for the BJP and 15 for Independents in the recent urban local body elections. The mayoral result showed the importance of support from councillors outside the party’s core strength.
The BJP also won mayoral contests in Udaipur and Ajmer, while its candidates were elected unopposed in Bharatpur and Bhilwara. Congress won the mayoral election in Bikaner.
Across Rajasthan, the BJP secured a significantly larger share of municipal leadership posts than Congress. According to results available on Monday, the BJP had won 197 urban local body head posts, compared with 94 for Congress.
The mayor and chairperson elections followed the September 9 and 11 councillor polls. The BJP had emerged as the largest party in the ward elections, winning 4,182 seats, while Congress secured 3,619. Independents and candidates from other parties won 2,273 wards.
The strong presence of Independents made their support significant in several mayoral contests. The remaining major contests, including Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota, are scheduled for September 25.