Rajasthan civic election results: Congress gains in Pali, Ajmer; BJP wins Udaipur

Counting of votes for councillor posts in 309 urban local bodies across Rajasthan began on Monday under tight security, with officials restricting entry to authorised personnel at designated counting centres.

The elections are being held for 10,245 councillor posts across 10 municipal corporations, 51 municipal councils and 248 municipalities. More than 1.44 crore voters were eligible to cast their ballots, according to PTI.

Two-phase polling records high turnout

Voting was conducted in two phases. Elections for 162 urban local bodies took place on September 9, recording a turnout of 76.42 per cent. Polling for the remaining 147 bodies was held on September 11, with 70.68 per cent voter turnout.

The results so far have produced mixed outcomes for the BJP and Congress, while Independents have emerged as a significant force in several civic bodies.

Independents make strong gains in Deeg, Bharatpur

In Deeg, Independents won 25 of the 40 wards, while the BJP secured 15. Congress failed to win a seat.

A similar trend was seen in Bharatpur. Independents won 38 of the 65 wards in the Bharatpur Municipal Corporation. The BJP secured 20 seats, Congress seven, while RLP and BSP won one each.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma had campaigned in Bharatpur, including a roadshow covering around eight wards in support of BJP candidates. However, the BJP's tally fell to 20 from 22 in 2019, while Congress dropped from 18 seats to seven.

Congress performs strongly in Dholpur and Dausa

Congress recorded notable victories in Dholpur and Dausa.

In the Dholpur Municipal Council, Congress won 27 of 60 wards, followed by Independents with 19, BJP with 11 and BSP with three.

In Dausa, Congress secured 24 of 55 wards. The BJP won 17 and Independents 14.

BJP wins big in Udaipur, close contest in Jodhpur

The BJP secured a clear majority in Udaipur, winning 44 of the 80 wards. Congress won 24, while Independents secured three seats.

Jodhpur saw a much closer contest. The BJP won 44 of 98 wards, narrowly ahead of Congress with 43. Independents took the remaining 11 seats.

Congress gains ground in Pali, Ajmer

Congress won 29 of 65 wards in Pali, ahead of the BJP's 21, while Independents won 15. The result came in the civic body considered a BJP stronghold of state president Madan Rathore.

In Ajmer, Congress won 37 of 80 wards against the BJP's 32, with Independents securing 11. Neither major party has a majority, leaving Independents in a crucial position in the formation of the civic body.