Pali Mayor Poll: BJP’s Namita Bubakia Wins After 12 Independents Back Party

September 21, 2026

Pali: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pulled off a major upset in the Pali Municipal Corporation mayoral election on Monday, with its candidate Namita Bubakia winning the mayor’s post despite the Congress emerging as the largest party in the recently held civic polls.

The Congress had won 29 of the 65 wards, while the BJP secured 21 and independent candidates won 15 wards. With 33 councillors required for a majority, the independents held the key to the mayoral election.

BJP Gets Support From 12 Independents

The BJP entered the mayoral contest with 21 councillors and needed 12 additional votes to reach the majority mark of 33. The party succeeded in securing the support of 12 independent councillors, paving the way for Namita Bubakia’s victory.

The result means the BJP managed to take control of the mayor’s post despite finishing behind Congress in terms of the number of wards won in the municipal corporation election.

Congress Had 29 Seats But Failed To Secure Mayor Post

Congress emerged as the largest party in the 65-member Pali Municipal Corporation with 29 councillors. The BJP had 21 seats, while independents held 15.

Congress fielded Sumitra Jain for the mayoral election, while BJP nominated Namita Bubakia. Independent councillor Rajbala Hingad, who had won the election on a Congress ticket, also contested the mayoral election as an independent candidate.

The presence of Rajbala Hingad created an additional challenge for Congress, which had to manage its own internal voting arithmetic. Congress had expelled Hingad from the party for six years after she entered the mayoral contest as an independent candidate.

Pali Mayor Election Result

With Namita Bubakia’s election, the BJP has secured the mayor’s post in Pali despite Congress winning four more councillor seats than the BJP in the municipal polls.

The result also highlights the role played by independent councillors in Rajasthan’s urban local body elections, where several municipal corporations produced fractured mandates and independents became important to the formation of civic boards.

Pali is also the home district of Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore, adding significance to the BJP’s victory in the mayoral election.