# Bhilwara Municipal Polls Controversy as Congress Misses Symbols in 17 Wards While Photo of Mahesh Soni and LN Dad Triggers Dispute

> Political turmoil has erupted in Bhilwara following Congress's failure to submit official election symbols in 17 municipal wards. The controversy intensified after a viral photograph surfaced showing Congress leader Mahesh Soni drafting tickets alongside BJP leader LN Dad.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Rajasthan · **Published:** 2026-09-02 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/rajasthan/bhilwara-nagara-nigama-chunava-men-17-vardon-se-congress-sinbala-gayaba-mahesh-soni-aura-ln-dad-ki-vayarala-tasvira-para-macha-siy-26637 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Bhilwara Municipal Election, Congress Symbol Controversy, Mahesh Soni, LN Dad, Ashok Kothari, Bhilwara Politics, Rajasthan Local Body Polls

A major political developments has destabilized the local election atmosphere in the Bhilwara Municipal Corporation following the completion of the nomination filing process. Elections are being held across all 70 wards of the Bhilwara Municipal Corporation, but the primary opposition party, Congress, managed to submit official party symbols for candidates in only 53 wards within the stipulated deadline. Due to this procedural and administrative setback, Congress candidates in 17 wards were left completely without the party's official symbol. In contrast, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party successfully deposited official symbols for candidates in all 70 wards. While the failure to deposit symbols in 17 wards immediately sparked concerns within political circles, the controversy escalated sharply after a photograph surfaced on social media platforms. The viral image shows senior Congress leader Mahesh Soni drafting official candidate nomination documents while former BJP District President and former Chairman LN Dad sits directly beside him at the same table. The presence of senior figures from rival political camps at a single location during a critical phase of candidate finalization has triggered widespread speculation across the region.

 

## Nomination Breakdown and Symbol Submission Stats

The elections for the Bhilwara Municipal Corporation encompass a total of 70 municipal wards. Under the statutory guidelines established for local body elections, any candidate representing a recognized political organization must present official party authorization forms to the returning officer before the deadline expires to be formally recognized on the ballot. The campaign management team of the Bharatiya Janata Party demonstrated complete organizational readiness by submitting official symbol documents across all 70 wards prior to the cutoff time. Conversely, the local organizational machinery of the Congress party managed to complete symbol filing in only 53 wards. This left 17 wards without official Congress symbols, resulting in those candidates being treated without formal party backing on the ballot. This unexpected breakdown created immediate unrest within the local Congress cadre, as the absence of official party symbols in nearly a quarter of the total wards effectively handed an initial advantage to rival contestants. Once the final numbers were confirmed by election authorities after the nomination window closed, intense debates erupted among party workers and political observers regarding the underlying reasons for such a significant lapse.

 

## Viral Social Media Photograph Triggers Political Debate

Immediately after the conclusion of the nomination process, a photograph began circulating widely across digital messaging platforms and social networks, drastically elevating the political temperature in Bhilwara. The photograph depicts Congress leader Mahesh Soni seated at a table, actively writing out ticket forms and candidate authorization details for Congress aspirants. Positioned right beside him at the same desk is LN Dad, a prominent BJP leader who has previously served as the BJP District President and Chairman. As the image gained traction among local residents and party supporters, sharp questions began emerging regarding the propriety of the scene. Critics and observers questioned why a top leader from the opposing party was present in close physical proximity while Congress was finalizing its confidential candidate allocations. Discussions intensified over whether the failure to file symbols in 17 wards was merely an operational oversight or the result of informal local understandings. Although no official administrative finding or concrete evidence has emerged to prove any explicit collusion between the leaders, the visual evidence has forced the local Congress leadership onto the defensive during an active campaign.

 

## Statement from BJP Supported MLA Ashok Kothari

As public discussion intensified, BJP-supported independent MLA Ashok Kothari issued a detailed clarification regarding his presence and the circumstances surrounding the viral photograph. Kothari characterized the entire incident as a routine courtesy interaction and an entirely accidental encounter. He explained that in public life, political figures frequently cross paths, exchange basic greetings, or sit in shared public spaces, and that interpreting such casual moments as political maneuvering is unfounded. According to Kothari, he had arrived at the location after receiving a request from BJP symbol in-charges Vipin Dwivedi, Prashant Mewara, and Sanjay, who asked him to meet them there. Upon reaching the venue, Kothari stated that he had no prior knowledge regarding which individuals were present inside the room. When he realized that representatives associated with the Congress party were also present and engaged in their internal work, he remained seated for approximately five minutes before taking his leave. Kothari reiterated that his brief stay should not be construed as involvement in any behind-the-scenes political arrangements or election strategies.

 

## Clarification by LN Dad and Dynamics in Ward Number 28

Former BJP District President and former Chairman LN Dad also addressed the controversy generated by the photograph in which he appears alongside Mahesh Soni. LN Dad stated that casual conversations and occasional meetings between political figures are common phenomena in local governance. He remarked that Mahesh Soni is a senior Congress leader who acts independently in accordance with the organizational interests of his own party, making it inappropriate to attribute political motives to a routine interaction. Despite LN Dad's public statement, political discussions have continued unabated across Bhilwara. Attention has increasingly focused on Ward Number 28, which has emerged as a key focal point in the overall debate. Local political reports indicate that LN Dad's son is contesting as an official candidate from Ward Number 28, whereas Congress has not fielded an official candidate backed by a party symbol against him in that specific ward. While observers have drawn connections between the viral photo and the absence of a Congress contestant in Ward Number 28, no official confirmation exists linking the photograph or any individual's presence to the electoral configuration in that ward.

 

## Technical Arguments by Congress and Official BJP Stance

Addressing the controversy surrounding the unsubmitted symbols, representatives of the Congress party offered an official explanation for the shortfall. Local party leaders maintained that Congress was fully committed to contesting all municipal seats and had initiated the process of selecting candidates and preparing symbol paperwork in a systematic manner. However, during the final hours of the filing window, the party encountered unexpected technical complications and administrative obstacles. According to Congress spokespersons, these procedural hurdles and administrative delays directly prevented the completion of symbol submissions in 17 wards before the deadline expired. On the other hand, representatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party firmly rejected any attempt to link their leaders to Congress's internal operational challenges. BJP officials asserted that their organization has no connection with the candidate selection, paperwork handling, or symbol submission management of rival parties. They maintained that Congress's internal mismanagement should not be disguised by attributing political significance to a chance meeting. As full-scale campaigning gets underway across all 70 wards of Bhilwara Municipal Corporation, the fallout from the missing symbols and the viral photograph remains the dominant political topic in the city.

## What this means for you
The failure of Congress to deposit official party symbols in 17 wards during the Bhilwara Municipal Corporation election directly impacts local voter choices and political accountability.

- **Across India:** The incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding organizational efficiency and administrative discipline within major political parties during local elections. Such developments draw public focus to the procedural rigor required for official symbol allocations nationwide.

- **In Bhilwara:** Voters in the 17 affected municipal wards must now evaluate independent candidates rather than an officially recognized Congress nominee. This procedural lapse alters local constituency dynamics and transforms the traditional party-line contest.

- **In Bhilwara:** Residents of Ward Number 28 encounter a revised electoral scenario in the absence of an officially fielded Congress candidate. Electors in this specific ward are now required to choose between the BJP nominee and alternative local options.

- **In Bhilwara:** The municipal administration and future development initiatives may reflect the altered balance of political representation. The reduced presence of an official opposition candidate in multiple wards could influence the competitive nature of the council.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. How many total wards are in Bhilwara Municipal Corporation and in how many did Congress submit symbols?
There are 70 total wards in Bhilwara Municipal Corporation. Congress submitted official symbols in 53 wards, failing to deposit symbols in 17 wards.

### 2. Which leaders are visible in the viral social media photograph?
The viral photograph shows Congress leader Mahesh Soni drafting candidate tickets while BJP leader LN Dad sits right next to him.

### 3. What clarification did BJP supported MLA Ashok Kothari offer regarding the photo?
MLA Ashok Kothari described it as a chance encounter. He stated he went there upon the request of BJP in-charges and left within five minutes upon noticing Congress leaders.

### 4. What is the specific issue regarding Ward Number 28?
BJP leader LN Dad's son is contesting from Ward Number 28, and Congress has failed to field an official party-symbol candidate against him in that ward.

### 5. What reason did Congress provide for not submitting symbols in 17 wards?
Congress stated that certain technical and administrative conditions arose during the nomination process, preventing the completion of symbol submissions in 17 wards.

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