Intro: Rajasthan’s urban poll verdict gives the BJP momentum, while Independents and Congress wins reveal a more complex political picture.
Jaipur
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Tuesday said the BJP’s performance in the state’s Urban Local Body elections reflected public approval of the government’s work over two-and-a-half years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
The ruling BJP won 4,179 wards, finishing ahead of the Congress, which secured 3,613 wards. The BJP also secured clear majorities in four of Rajasthan’s 10 municipal corporations, while Independents emerged as a major force with 2,273 wards.
Sharma said the outcome demonstrated faith in development initiatives undertaken by state and Central governments. He highlighted projects and programmes covering water, investment, metro expansion and tourism.
“Certainly, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the work accomplished in Rajasthan over the past two-and-a-half years has received the seal of approval from the people of Rajasthan,” Sharma said.
He also claimed that his government had fulfilled 78 per cent of the promises made in its election manifesto within two-and-a-half years. The chief minister thanked Rajasthan’s youth and voters for supporting the BJP and said the result reflected their confidence in Modi’s vision.
However, the election verdict also produced setbacks for the ruling party. Congress won a majority in the Bikaner Municipal Corporation and secured a significant victory in the Jhalawar Municipal Council, a stronghold of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje.
The most striking result came from Bharatpur, Sharma’s hometown. Independents won 36 of 65 wards, compared with 20 for BJP and seven for Congress. BSP and RLP won one ward each, making the verdict politically significant.
