# Bhilwara Municipal Corporation Elections: BJP and Congress Face Fierce Battle Amid 17-Seat Symbol Crisis > Nearly 3 lakh voters across 70 wards will decide the new board in the Bhilwara Municipal Corporation elections in Rajasthan. Congress's failure to file symbols in 17 wards and a strong presence of independents have turned the contest multi-cornered. **Type:** article · **Category:** Rajasthan · **Published:** 2026-09-03 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/rajasthan/bhilwara-nagara-nigama-chunava-men-17-siton-para-sinbala-snkata-ke-bicha-bjp-aura-congress-men-kara-mukabala-27190 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Bhilwara Municipal Corporation, Rajasthan Local Body Elections, BJP, Congress, Municipal Elections, Rajasthan Politics Political tension has escalated dramatically in the industrial city of Bhilwara, Rajasthan, as campaigning intensifies for the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections. Marking the first major electoral contest since the local body was upgraded from a Municipal Council to a Municipal Corporation, both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress are deploying their full organizational strength to secure control of the newly formed body. Approximately 3 lakh eligible voters across 70 wards will cast their ballots to elect the new municipal board. Long considered a traditional stronghold of the BJP, Bhilwara is witnessing a far more complex electoral dynamic this year. The presence of influential independent candidates and disgruntled party rebels has turned binary contests into multi-cornered battles across numerous wards, forcing both major parties to revamp their grassroots strategies. ## Mayor Seat Reserved for General Woman, Sparks Fierce Internal Competition The administrative elevation of the Bhilwara Municipal Council to a full-fledged Municipal Corporation was formally executed in 2024 by the Autonomous Bodies Department of the Rajasthan state government. Following this restructuring, then council chairman Rakesh Pathak took charge as the first Mayor of the Bhilwara Municipal Corporation. Now, as the city heads into its inaugural general election under the new municipal status, the State Election Commission has officially reserved the coveted post of Mayor for a General Woman candidate. This reservation mandate has sparked intense lobbying and political calculations within both major party camps as leaders scramble to field strong female contenders. Within the BJP, former council chairperson Manju Chechani has emerged as a prominent frontrunner for the mayoral nomination, alongside party activist Aarti Kogta, whose name is also being strongly considered by the leadership. On the Congress side, several seasoned leaders are actively positioning themselves, including former council chairperson Manju Pokharna, Sushila Salvi, and Samdu Devi Khatiq. Whether the Mayor will be elected directly by the electorate or chosen through post-election alliance building among elected ward councillors will depend on the final outcome and board majority. Consequently, both parties are currently concentrating their resources on winning the maximum number of ward seats. ## 54 Years of Municipal Governance and Electoral Breakdown Across 7 Elections Local governance in Bhilwara carries a rich history spanning over five decades. The Bhilwara Municipal Council was originally established 54 years ago in 1970. Since its inception, the civic body has witnessed seven general elections. Historical election data reveals a closely contested political landscape between the two dominant political forces of Rajasthan. Out of the seven elections conducted so far, the BJP has managed to form the municipal board four times, while Congress has secured majority control on three occasions. During Congress tenures, senior party leader Om Prakash Naraniwal served two terms as the chairman of the Bhilwara Municipal Council, while Manju Pokharna held the chairperson post for one term. From 2010 onwards, the BJP established a dominant grip over Bhilwara's local politics. During this period of sustained BJP influence, Anil Baldwa, Lalita Samdani, and Manju Chechani served as council chairpersons at different intervals, consolidating the party's electoral dominance in urban wards. ## The 2019 Political Crisis and Subsequent High Court Rulings Although the BJP maintained firm control over the municipal body after 2010, the political landscape experienced severe volatility in 2019 following a series of high-profile administrative developments. The incumbent BJP chairperson, Lalita Samdani, faced serious allegations of corruption, leading to her official removal from office by the state government. In the wake of her dismissal, the state government appointed Congress leader Manju Pokharna as the new chairperson of the Bhilwara Municipal Council. This administrative decision was promptly challenged by the BJP in court. The legal dispute escalated to the High Court, leading to prolonged proceedings regarding the validity of the government's action. Ultimately, following judicial orders, BJP leader Manju Chechani was reinstated and sworn in as the chairperson of the council. This political and legal battle heightened inter-party rivalries in Bhilwara, establishing deep-seated factional dynamics that continue to influence the ongoing municipal corporation campaign. ## Congress Faces Major setback with Symbol Submission in 17 Wards Heading into the current election, Congress faces a major organizational hurdle due to its failure to submit official party authorization forms (B-forms) in 17 wards before the filing deadline. According to official election details, Congress candidates are contesting on the party's official symbol in only 54 out of the total 70 wards. In the remaining 17 wards, party-backed candidates have been forced to file their nominations as independents. Conversely, the BJP has successfully fielded official candidates across all 70 wards, demonstrating complete organizational readiness. With nomination filings concluded, public attention has shifted to the formal withdrawal deadline scheduled for September 3. Following the 3 PM cutoff on September 3, the final candidate lists for each ward will be officially published. In several contentious wards, as many as 8 to 10 candidates remain in the fray. As a result, campaign managers from both parties are working around the clock not only to mobilize voters but also to persuade independent candidates and party rebels to withdraw their nominations and pledge support to official nominees. ## BJP's Urban Stronghold Tested Against Congress's Renewal Push Bhilwara has historically been categorized as a dependable urban fortress for the BJP, underpinned by an extensive organizational structure, active cadre networks, and favorable demographic equations. However, Congress is determined to challenge this conventional political wisdom by aggressively contesting key urban pockets and attempting to disrupt established voting patterns across the 70 wards. Given that this is the first general election following Bhilwara's elevation to a Municipal Corporation, both parties view the contest as a critical test of their political strength in urban Rajasthan. The ultimate victory—securing the Mayor's chair—will depend on which party secures a clear numerical majority or constructs effective coalitions among elected councillors after the results are declared. Full-scale campaigning will commence immediately after the withdrawal process concludes on September 3. ## What this means for you The outcomes of this first-ever municipal corporation election in Bhilwara will directly shape the city's civic governance, infrastructure development, and public service delivery. - **Across India:** The results of these local body elections in Rajasthan serve as a key barometer of urban voter sentiment and organizational strength for major political parties. - **In Bhilwara:** Residents across all 70 wards will elect a new local governing board and their first female mayor, which will dictate the pace of resolving pressing issues like road maintenance, sanitation, and water supply. - **In Bhilwara:** In the 17 wards where Congress failed to submit its official party symbol, voters face a unique dynamic between party-backed independents and opposition candidates. - **In Bhilwara:** The newly formed municipal corporation board is expected to expedite fund allocation and administrative approvals for major urban infrastructure projects. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. How many wards and eligible voters are there in the Bhilwara Municipal Corporation elections? The Bhilwara Municipal Corporation consists of 70 wards with approximately 3 lakh eligible voters participating in the elections. ### 2. What is the reservation status for the Mayor post in Bhilwara? The post of Mayor in the Bhilwara Municipal Corporation has been reserved for a General Woman candidate. ### 3. What major obstacle is Congress facing in 17 of the 70 wards? Congress failed to submit official party symbols on time in 17 wards, leaving party candidates to contest as independents in those areas. ### 4. What is the historical track record of local body elections in Bhilwara? Since the civic body's formation in 1970, 7 elections have been held, with the BJP forming the board 4 times and Congress 3 times. ### 5. When is the deadline for withdrawal of nominations? The withdrawal process concludes on September 3, after which the final list of contesting candidates will be published. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._