Ajmer: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured the mayor’s post in the Ajmer Municipal Corporation on Monday, September 21, after its candidate received 43 votes in the mayoral election. All 11 independent councillors voted in favour of the BJP candidate.
The result came despite the Congress emerging as the single-largest party in the 80-member civic body elections. Congress had won 37 wards, compared with 32 for the BJP, while 11 seats went to independent candidates.
BJP Gets All 11 Independent Votes
The BJP entered the mayoral election with 32 councillors. Its candidate’s tally rose to 43 votes, indicating that all 11 independent councillors supported the party in the mayoral ballot.
Congress secured 37 votes, matching its strength in the municipal corporation.
The 11 independent councillors had emerged as a crucial group after the September 14 civic poll results, with neither BJP nor Congress having the 41 votes required for a majority in the 80-member corporation.
Congress Emerged As Largest Party In Civic Polls
The Congress had won 37 of the 80 wards, making it the single-largest party. BJP had secured 32 wards, while independent candidates won 11.
Ahead of the mayoral election, both parties had been trying to secure the support of the independent councillors. Congress had also claimed the support of some independents before the voting, while both parties were working to keep their councillors together.
The final voting, however, resulted in all 11 independents backing the BJP candidate, giving the party 43 votes and the mayor’s post.
BJP Also Wins Mayor Posts In Pali And Udaipur
The Ajmer result came on the same day as BJP victories in other Rajasthan municipal corporations.
In Pali, BJP candidate Namita Bubakiya secured the mayor’s post with support from additional councillors. Congress had emerged as the largest party there with 29 of 65 wards, while BJP won 21 and independents 15.
In Udaipur, BJP’s Paras Singhvi was elected mayor after receiving 55 votes. Congress secured 25 votes, while two independent councillors supported the BJP candidate.
In Udaipur’s 80-member corporation, BJP had already secured 53 wards in the September 14 civic polls, while Congress won 23.