Narendra Sharma, Jaipur: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday emerged ahead of the Congress in Rajasthan urban local body elections, winning 4,179 wards against the opposition party's 3,613.

While the ruling party established a clear majority in four of the state's ten municipal corporations, Congress secured key victories by winning the Bikaner Municipal Corporation and taking the Jhalawar Municipal Council, a stronghold of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

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Who Won How Many Wards?

The election results for 10,235 ward councillors in 309 urban bodies of the state were released on Monday. 

With the ward councillor results announced, focus now shifts to the elections for Mayors, Chairpersons, and Presidents scheduled for September 21.

BJP Suffers Setback In Vasundhara Raje's Bastion

Congress secured a major victory in the Jhalawar Municipal Council, considered a stronghold of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. However, the BJP secured a victory in Jhalarapatan, Raje's assembly seat.

In a bigger surprise, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won a majority in the Baran Municipal Council, which falls under the same parliamentary constituency.

Tie In Jodhpur And Loss In Bikaner

In Jodhpur, the home constituency of former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, both the BJP and Congress secured equal number of seats, 44 seats each. Both parties are now working to woo the 11 independents and RLP councillors to form the local body.

In Bikaner, the constituency of Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, the BJP suffered a setback as Congress secured an absolute majority.

Mixed Results In Chief Minister's Home Region

In Bharatpur, the home district of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, the BJP failed to secure a majority. Independent candidates dominated, taking 36 out of 65 seats, leaving the BJP with 20 and Congress with seven.

However, in Sanganer, the CM’s own assembly constituency, the BJP secured a landslide victory.

A Look At Party Standings

Municipal Corporations (10 Total): The BJP secured majorities in four (Jaipur, Kota, Udaipur, and Bhilwara). Congress won Bikaner and emerged as the largest party in Ajmer and Pali.

Municipalities (47 Total): 28 municipalities have no clear winner, leaving independents as key decision-makers. The BJP won 12, Congress six, and AAP one.

Smaller Municipal Boards (252 Total): The BJP crossed the majority mark in about 131 bodies, Congress in 95, while independents hold the key in the rest.

ALSO READ: Rajasthan Municipal Corporations Winner Tally 2026: BJP Wins Jaipur, Kota, Udaipur; Congress Takes Bikaner, Pali

CM Sharma Expresses Gratitude

Expressing gratitude to the public and BJP workers, CM Sharma said, "This is dedicated to the people of Rajasthan and the workers who worked hard for the election victory. The public has approved the development work done in the last two and a half years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The public has accepted Modi's vision of a developed India and a developed Rajasthan. The youth have once again expressed confidence in the PM. Our government has fulfilled 78 per cent of the promises made in the election manifesto in two and a half years."

Focus Shifts To 2028 Assembly Elections

With the 2028 state assembly elections more than two years away, these civic poll results will likely be the basis for a shift in strategy for all major parties.

In the 2023 state polls, BJP won 115 seats with a 41.7 per cent vote share, while Congress secured 70 seats with 39.58 per cent. With these results showing strong support for independent candidates, both BJP and Congress will need to adjust their strategies. Congress, in particular, will need to focus on wooing independent candidates to form majorities.