JAIPUR: Political activity has intensified over board formation following the results of Rajasthan’s 10 municipal corporations. Five corporations, Jodhpur, Alwar, Ajmer, Pali and Bharatpur, have delivered hung verdicts, with no party securing a clear majority. The BJP and Congress are now trying to win the support of independent councillors, amid concerns over horse-trading.
The ruling BJP, traditionally considered stronger in urban areas, emerged as the largest party in the civic body elections. It secured clear majorities in Jaipur, Kota, Udaipur and Bhilwara. The Congress secured a majority in Bikaner.
Jodhpur saw the closest contest, with the BJP and Congress winning 44 wards each. Neither party reached the majority mark. The 11 independent and other councillors are therefore likely to play a decisive role in board formation.
Bharatpur produced an even more fragmented verdict. Of the 65 wards, independents won 36, followed by the BJP with 20 and the Congress with seven. The BSP and RLP won one ward each. The BJP has already moved its winning candidates to a secure location, apparently to prevent poaching. This has brought resort politics into the board formation process.
In Alwar, the BJP emerged as the largest party with 28 of 65 wards, followed by the Congress with 23. Independents won 13 wards, while the BSP secured one. A majority requires 33 councillors. The BJP needs five more councillors, while the Congress needs 10. Independents therefore hold the balance of power.
The Congress emerged as the largest party in both Ajmer and Pali but fell short of a majority. Both parties are now working to secure independent support.
In Ajmer, the BJP suffered a setback after 36 years. The Congress won 37 of the 80 wards, compared with 32 for the BJP. Independents and rebel candidates won 11 wards. With neither major party reaching the majority mark, independents hold the key to power.
Pali has a similar situation, with both the BJP and Congress falling short of a majority. The 15 independent councillors could determine who forms the board. Both parties are also assessing their chances for the mayoral post while trying to keep their councillors together and attract independent support.
With independents holding the balance in these corporations, both parties are taking steps to prevent defections and poaching. The Congress has housed its councillors at a resort in the Bassi area near Jaipur, while the BJP has moved its candidates to locations on Delhi Road.
Political analysts expect efforts to woo independents to intensify as the mayoral elections approach. The resort politics could continue until the mayor and deputy mayor elections are completed, keeping the battle for control of these corporations wide open.
Fractured verdicts in several urban local bodies have put 2,273 independent councillors at the centre of the post-poll arithmetic in Rajasthan civic polls which the BJP won.
The BJP won 4,179 wards of the 10,244 wards across 309 urban local bodies, the Congress 3,613 and Independents 2,273.The RLP won 63 wards, AAP 42, CPI(M) 38, BSP 19 and Bharat Adivasi Party eight.