The Bharatiya Janata Party emerged victorious in a closely contested mayoral election at the Jodhpur Municipal Corporation, with party nominee Prasannachand Mehta winning the civic chief's post. Following the announcement of the official results, BJP supporters and party workers broke into celebrations across the city. The electoral arithmetic inside the 100-ward municipal house remained suspenseful until the final tally was declared, reflecting intense political maneuvering between the two principal rivals.
The Voting Numbers and Narrow Margin
A total of 100 municipal councillors cast their ballots to elect the new civic chief in Jodhpur. In the final count, BJP candidate Prasannachand Mehta secured 53 votes. His opponent from the Congress camp garnered 47 votes from the councillors. With this tally, Mehta clinched the mayoral chair by a razor-thin margin of just 6 votes, underscoring the tight contest that came down to the wire in the urban local body.
Gratitude to Party Leadership and Governance Agenda
Following his election as mayor, Prasannachand Mehta expressed gratitude toward the state leadership for entrusting him with the responsibility. In his address after the win, Mehta said, "Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, BJP State President Madan Lal, and General Secretary Ajay Kumar showed trust in me and selected me for the mayor post to serve the people of Jodhpur. I have lived up to their hopes and expectations. Today, we have achieved victory with 53 votes."
Addressing the civic representatives, Mehta stated that despite securing 53 votes, he considers the entire council of 100 members as his own family. He asserted that comprehensive urban development will be carried out by taking every councillor into confidence. Regarding the selection of the deputy mayor, Mehta clarified that the responsibility will be assigned to whichever candidate the party leadership designates.
Diwali Cleanliness and Lighting Drive as Immediate Focus
Outlining his immediate civic agenda, the newly elected mayor highlighted the upcoming festive season. Mehta announced that with Diwali approaching, municipal machinery will immediately prioritize making Jodhpur neat and clean. Dedicated sanitation drives will be deployed across roads and localities, accompanied by comprehensive lighting arrangements throughout the city to ensure smooth public celebrations.
How Independent Councillors Decided the Outcome
The presence of independent councillors proved to be the pivotal factor that turned the Jodhpur civic poll into a nail-biter. Ten independent candidates had won seats in the corporation. Prior to the mayoral polling, the Congress camp claimed that six of these independents were its own rebels, while the BJP also had rebel candidates who had entered the race independently and won. The final scoreline of 53 to 47 made it evident that backing from key independent councillors swung the balance in favor of the BJP, sealing a six-vote triumph.
