The Congress party has secured a dramatic victory in the Khatushyamji municipal board chairman election in Sikar district, Rajasthan, defeating the BJP by a margin of just a single vote. Congress candidate Vineeta Poonia garnered 10 votes, narrowly edging out BJP rival Prem Devi, who secured 9 votes. Returning officer Kapil उपाध्याय announced the final outcome following crucial interventions by the Rajasthan High Court. With this victory, the municipal board chairmanship in Khatushyamji has officially shifted to the Congress, sparking celebrations among party supporters and drawing significant political attention.
Voter turnout and nail-biting arithmetic
Out of the 20 total wards in the municipality, 19 councillors managed to cast their votes during the polling process. Notably, ward number 10 councillor Laxmi Devi failed to cast her vote, leaving the final tally at 19 counted ballots. As the results were revealed, Congress nominee Vineeta Poonia stood at 10 votes while BJP candidate Prem Devi finished closely behind with 9 votes. This extremely narrow margin of victory has turned the local civic polls into a major talking point across the region.
The missing councillor and high-voltage political drama
The political drama unfolded on September 21 during the day of polling itself. The 20-member municipal body featured a tightly contested house, comprising 8 councillors from the Congress, 8 from the BJP, 3 independents, and 1 from the RLP. The balance of power was hanging by a thread when ward number 10 councillor Laxmi Devi suddenly disappeared from the polling station. Her failure to vote triggered immediate panic, prompting her husband to approach the police directly to register a formal complaint expressing fears of abduction. Although police later claimed to have recovered Laxmi Devi, the incident unleashed a torrent of political allegations regarding the integrity of the election process.
High Court intervention and final counting
The controversy surrounding the missing councillor and allegations of electoral tampering quickly escalated to the Rajasthan High Court. While voting took place on September 21 and counting was originally scheduled for September 25, the results were repeatedly delayed because the High Court's formal orders and certified copies failed to reach the election authorities on time. Finally, cutting through all legal hurdles and administrative delays, the ballot boxes were opened on Saturday. The counting of the 19 valid votes confirmed 10 in favour of Congress and 9 for the BJP, immediately plunging the Congress camp into celebratory festivities.
