BJP races ahead in Rajasthan civic polls

The results of Rajasthan municipal elections have been declared and it has a mixed message for all key players – BJP, Congress and chief minister Vasundhara Raje.

This was the second big win for the ruling party after Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, also tainted in the Vyapam Scam, won in the recently concluded civic Polls. BJP president Amit Shah said his party had captured 67 of the 129 civic bodies in the State, “and improved its performance of 2010 when it had won elections in 49 civic bodies”.

The 129 civic bodies in the state had gone to polls on August 17. The Congress bagged 27 seats, while the Independents won in 17 seats.

The election of the chairman and deputy-chairman would be held based on party’s core committee recommendations in which elected councillors would vote, he said. Meanwhile, PCC president Sachin Pilot said that the results would be in Congress’ favour simply due to the “wrong doings” of Raje government in last 21 months of its rule.

The Congress leader felt that his party was hurt because of the state government’s “last-minute decision through an ordinance” to prescribe a minimum qualification of class 10th pass for contesting the civic polls. This reflects the hard work of the Congress workers. “We have come a long way from our performance during last Assembly polls”. The verdict of the Rajasthan civic polls would add to the morale of the BJP, which is eyeing to grab power in Bihar next.

“Congress won both the municipal council seats in the CM’s constituency”. “Despite the abuse of official machinery, the BJP has lost in her strongholds”, he said. The BJP won the remaining 10 wards.

However, in a personal setback for the Chief Minister, the opposition Congress has won two civic bodies in Jhalawar, her assembly constituency. The Congress was ahead in 25 while others led in 17 municipal boards.