In the maiden chairperson election of the newly created Atru municipality in Baran district, the Congress secured a decisive victory to take charge of the civic body. Congress nominee Nisha Nainiwal defeated Krishan Murari Dilawar, the younger brother of Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar, in the voting held on Monday. During the counting of ballots, Nainiwal secured 14 votes, while the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Krishan Murari Dilawar garnered 11 votes. With a victory margin of three votes, Nisha Nainiwal became the first elected chairperson of the Atru municipal board.
High-Stakes Contest in the Newly Formed Civic Body
This election drew widespread political attention across Rajasthan primarily because it marked the very first civic contest held after Atru was elevated to municipality status, alongside the direct family involvement of a cabinet minister. The municipal board consists of 25 wards. In the preceding ward elections, the Congress established a clear majority by winning 14 wards. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party managed to secure victories in 10 wards, with a solitary ward being won by an independent candidate.
Congress Keeps Flock Intact Against Cross-Voting Bids
For the chairperson post, which was designated under the Scheduled Caste reservation quota, the Bharatiya Janata Party bet on Krishan Murari Dilawar, hoping to leverage his administrative background and political stature. The Congress fielded Nisha Nainiwal to lead their board. The election required cross-party support for the BJP to overcome the Congress majority. While the BJP managed to secure the vote of the lone independent councillor, bringing their tally to 11, the party was unable to engineer any cross-voting among Congress councillors. All 14 Congress representatives voted strictly along party lines for Nainiwal, sealing her election as chairperson.
Internal Ticket Dynamics and Local Political Background
The defeated BJP candidate Krishan Murari had entered the municipal council after winning as councillor from Ward Number 5. He possesses extensive grassroots political experience, having served four consecutive terms as the sarpanch of the Chardana gram panchayat. Ward Number 5 had generated substantial discussion even prior to the councillor elections due to family rivalries over party nomination. Pawan Dilawar, the son of Education Minister Madan Dilawar, had also formally staked claim for the BJP ticket from the exact same ward. The competing bids from uncle and nephew from a single household became a major point of political debate before the party decided to nominate Krishan Murari, who won the councillor seat but ultimately fell short in the municipal leadership race.
