Rajasthan Civic Polls: BJP Edges Out Congress, Independents Dominate Chief Minister's Turf

Public Lokpal
September 14, 2026

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured the upper hand against the opposition Congress in Rajasthan's urban local body elections, though the verdict highlighted a strong undercurrent for independent candidates.

Out of over 10,200 declared ward results across 309 civic bodies, the BJP emerged victorious in 4,171 wards, while the Congress trailed at 3,597, and Independents captured a formidable 2,272 seats.

The BJP cemented comfortable majorities in major municipal corporations including Jaipur, Udaipur, Bhilwara, and Kota.

However, the elections delivered a striking setback for the ruling party in Bharatpur—Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma's home turf—where Independents swept 36 of the 65 wards, leaving the BJP confined to just 20.

Similarly, opposition parties and rebels made heavy inroads into traditional bastions, such as the Congress securing wins in former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's Jhalawar stronghold and state party chief Govind Singh Dotasra's base in Sikar.

With several hung corporations requiring the backing of independent councillors to form boards, the final political control of key urban bodies hangs in the balance ahead of the mayoral and chairperson elections scheduled for September 21.