After Rural setback, Congress beats BJP in Rajasthan Urban Local polls

After a setback in the recently held Panchayat Samiti elections, the ruling Congress has won 620 seats in the polls for the 50 municipal bodies in the state. The elections were held for member posts in 50 municipal bodies (43 municipalities and 7 city councils) in 12 districts of the state.

Ayukta PS Mehra informed that on December 11, voting was held for 50 municipal bodies of the state, in which 79.90 per cent of voters exercised the franchise. Out of 1,775 wards of all the bodies, 620 candidates of Congress, 548 of BJP, seven of BSP, two each of CPI and CPI (M), one of RLP and 595 Independent candidates won.

"My heartiest congratulations and best wishes to all the candidates who have won the municipal and city council elections. I express my gratitude to the people of the state who expressed their confidence in the Congress party and gave the Congress victory," Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said in a tweet (roughly translated from Hindi). "I thank all the Congress workers for their hard work and congratulate them on the victory," Gehlot added.

In the Panchayat Samiti elections, the results of which were declared on December 9,  the saffron party in the state swept 1,911 seats, while the Congress was limited to 1,781 seats. The Independents gained 425 seats, the Bahujan Samaj Party got 3 seats while CPI-M captured 16 seats in the elections while RLP got 57 seats, according to the state election commission website.

The Panchayat and Zila Parishad polls victories come at a time when Modi's policies were being protested against in Rajasthan by the Congress government who were supporting the bandh call on Tuesday. When they were pelting stones on the BJP office as a part of Bharat Bandh, people voted against their two years of misrule which was marred by lawlessness.

In the meantime, if present trends are to be believed, All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi seems to be eyeing big gains in Rajasthan in the long run by luring Bharatiya Tribal Party.

In a surprising move, Owaisi recently extended his support to Bharatiya Tribal Party in Rajasthan soon after it announced to withdraw its support to the Congress.

The BTP recently announced its separation with the ruling party in Rajasthan after the Congress joined hands with BJP to defeat BTP in Zila Parishad polls in Dungarpur district.

Soon after the stunning political episode, BTP National president Chhotubhai Vasava, tweeted, "#BJP Congress are one. This is the only truth."

Replying to his tweet, Owaisi said, "Vasavaji Congress will teach you and me the lesson of Opposition unity in the morning and evening. However, it will not rise above the Janeyudhari unity itself. Both of them are basically one. How long will you support them? Is your independent power anywhere less than a kingmaker? Hope you will take a right decision soon. We are with you in this struggle of stake," he said.