# Rajasthan Local Body Polls: BJP and Congress Locked in Fierce Power Struggle for Mayor and Chairperson Posts > Following the election results across 309 local bodies in Rajasthan, intense political maneuvering and camping of councilors have begun as BJP and Congress battle for key mayoral and chairperson positions. **Type:** article · **Category:** Rajasthan · **Published:** 2026-09-17 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/rajasthan/rajasthan-nikaya-pramukha-chunava-bjp-aura-congress-ke-bicha-kursi-ki-jnga-32999 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Rajasthan Local Body Elections, Mayor Election, BJP Congress, Civic Polls, Rajasthan Politics Political tensions have soared across Rajasthan as the dust settles on local body elections, triggering an intense race for key mayoral and chairperson posts. The state is set to elect leaders for a total of 309 local bodies, which include 10 municipal corporations, 51 municipal councils, and 248 municipal boards. While attention is spread across the entire state, the battle for the 10 municipal corporations has captured the highest public interest, with everyone waiting to see which party secures control over these urban centers. ## Clear Majorities in Several Corporations Out of the 10 municipal corporations, the Bharatiya Janata Party has secured a clear majority in Jaipur, Kota, Bhilwara, and Udaipur. In Bhilwara, the contest turned one-sided as Congress opted not to field a candidate for the mayor's post, paving the way for Jaswant Kanwar to be elected as mayor unopposed. Jaipur, Kota, and Udaipur also present stable scenarios for the ruling party with no immediate threat of internal dissent. However, in regions where the party lacks the numbers, intense efforts are underway to stitch together alliances and secure board formations. ## The Battleground in Six Corporations The core contest is concentrated in the remaining six municipal corporations, namely Jodhpur, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Pali, Bikaner, and Alwar. Although Congress commands a clear majority in Bikaner, state BJP chief Madan Rathore has publicly claimed that his party will capture all 10 municipal corporations in the state. Meanwhile, re-polling in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota municipal corporations and Suket municipality in Kota district has pushed the final election for local body heads in those areas to September 25. ## Camp Politics and Safeguarding Councilors To prevent poaching and defection, both the BJP and Congress have resorted to sequestering their winning councilors in secure locations. In Ajmer, where Congress emerged as the single largest party, leaders are leaving no stone unturned to secure a majority and form the board. Fearing cross-voting or horse-trading, Congress has moved its councilors all the way to Karnataka. The aggressive claims made by the state opposition have kept the Congress camp on high alert. Despite enjoying a comfortable majority in Bikaner, Congress has kept its councilors isolated within Rajasthan, specifically in Jaisalmer, while the BJP has stationed its councilors in Jodhpur. Even without a majority, BJP's hopes remain high because, alongside official Congress nominee Anil Kalla, another party-backed victor, Navratan Daga, has filed his candidature for mayor. Daga had originally submitted two nominations, one under the Congress banner and another as an independent. With the official party symbol going to Anil Kalla, who is the nephew of former minister B.D. Kalla, Daga remains in the race as an independent. Bikaner features 80 wards, where Congress holds 42 councilors against BJP's 27, alongside 10 independents and one RLP member. Nonetheless, BJP has fielded Surendra Singh Shekhavat on its official symbol, leaving room for potential political upsets. ## Independents Emerge as Kingmakers In the remaining three municipal corporations of Bharatpur, Alwar, and Pali, a tight tug-of-war is ongoing between the two major parties. Both sides have placed their councilors under strict seclusion to keep their numbers intact. With independent candidates acting as crucial kingmakers in these regions, both political outfits are deploying every possible strategy to lure them over. Following the completion of nominations, hectic parleys and backroom maneuvers are dominating the political landscape as parties scramble to form their boards. ## What this means for you The ongoing political tussle over local body leadership positions directly impacts urban administration and civic development across the state. - **Across India:** Intense political polarization at the grassroots level often delays administrative approvals and municipal file movements. Ordinary citizens may experience temporary slowdowns in routine civic services until stable local boards take charge. - **In Rajasthan:** Residents living across the 309 affected urban bodies may witness delays in essential municipal services like sanitation, water supply, and road maintenance. Local citizens seeking approvals or civic certificates will need to wait until the new mayors and chairpersons formally assume office. ## Why this happened This intense political scramble over local body leadership stems from fractured electoral mandates in several regions and an aggressive push by major parties to capture urban power centers. - **Lack of Absolute Majority:** Several municipal corporations and boards failed to deliver a decisive mandate to a single party, turning independent councilors into crucial decision-makers. - **Fear of Defection:** Political parties are heavily guarding their elected councilors in isolated camps to prevent poaching, horse-trading, and cross-voting during the floor tests. - **Prestige Battle:** Bold claims made by party leaders and state chiefs regarding sweeping victories have transformed routine municipal elections into high-stakes prestige battles. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. How many total local bodies are holding elections in Rajasthan? A total of 309 local bodies across Rajasthan are undergoing leadership elections. ### 2. How many municipal corporations are electing mayors? Mayor elections are scheduled across 10 municipal corporations in the state. ### 3. In which corporations has the BJP secured a clear majority? The BJP has secured a clear majority in the municipal corporations of Jaipur, Kota, Bhilwara, and Udaipur. ### 4. How many councilors does Congress have in Bikaner? Congress holds 42 councilors out of the 80 wards in Bikaner. ### 5. Which regions will hold elections on September 25 due to re-polling? Elections will be held on September 25 in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota municipal corporations, and Suket municipality in Kota district. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._