The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured the mayoral posts in three major Rajasthan cities on Friday, with its candidates elected in Jodhpur, Jaipur and Kota.
Prasann Chand Mehta won the Jodhpur Municipal Corporation mayoral election, while Sunil Kothari was elected mayor of Jaipur Municipal Corporation. In Kota, BJP’s Anusuiya Goswami defeated the Congress candidate to become the city’s new mayor.
The three elections were held through voting by elected councillors, with the results determined by the respective municipal corporation houses.
Prasann Chand Mehta Wins Jodhpur Mayor Election
BJP candidate Prasann Chand Mehta was elected mayor of Jodhpur Municipal Corporation after securing 53 votes in the 100-member house. The Congress candidate received 47 votes, giving Mehta a six-vote margin.
The election had attracted attention because of the close numbers in the corporation and the role of independent councillors in determining the final outcome. Before polling, the BJP had claimed support from additional councillors beyond its own strength.
After his election, Mehta thanked the BJP leadership for giving him the responsibility and said he would work with councillors across political lines.
“Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, BJP State President Madan Lal, Organisation General Secretary Ajay Kumar trusted me and elected me for the post of Mayor to serve the people of Jodhpur,” Mehta said.
He added that after becoming mayor, he considered the entire council as his family and would take everyone along in development work.
Mehta also said improving cleanliness and lighting in Jodhpur would be among his immediate priorities, particularly with Diwali approaching.
Sunil Kothari Elected Jaipur Mayor
In Jaipur, BJP’s Sunil Kothari was elected mayor of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation after receiving 89 votes.
Congress candidate Sunita Gupta Mawar secured 60 votes, while one vote went to NOTA, according to the reported result. Kothari’s tally included support from independent councillors.
The Jaipur mayoral election was preceded by political activity outside the municipal corporation headquarters. Congress leaders staged a protest after some party leaders were reportedly stopped from entering the premises.
Kothari had been the BJP’s nominated candidate for the mayoral post after the withdrawal of two independent candidates left him and Congress nominee Sunita Mawar in the contest.
Following his election, Kothari thanked party workers and supporters. The election of the deputy mayor is scheduled to take place on September 26.
Anusuiya Goswami Becomes Kota Mayor
BJP candidate Anusuiya Goswami was elected mayor of the Kota Municipal Corporation after defeating Congress nominee Sunita Suman.
Goswami received 65 votes, while the Congress candidate secured 35 votes, according to the reported result.
The Kota Municipal Corporation has 100 wards, with 57 councillors from the BJP, 39 from Congress and four independents. The final voting figures indicate that the result involved movement of votes beyond the parties’ declared strengths, although the secret ballot means individual voting choices cannot be established from the result alone.
Goswami’s election also makes her the first woman to hold the mayor’s post in Kota, according to reports.
BJP Takes Charge of Three Major Rajasthan Corporations
The results in Jodhpur, Jaipur and Kota give the BJP control of the mayoral positions in three of Rajasthan’s prominent municipal corporations.
The elections followed the recent urban local body polls in the state. The mayoral contests were decided by councillors after the municipal election results were declared and the new civic bodies were constituted.
The focus will now shift to the functioning of the three corporations, including civic services, road and sanitation works, urban infrastructure and other municipal responsibilities.
