Voting in the second and final phase of Rajasthan’s urban local body elections concluded on Friday, completing the polling process across all 309 urban local bodies in the state. In the second phase, 147 urban local bodies recorded 71.69% voter turnout by 6 pm.
The second phase covered major municipal corporations and urban bodies including Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur, Ajmer and Pali. In several urban local bodies, turnout surpassed the figures recorded in the previous elections.
Dhorimanna Municipality recorded the highest turnout in the second phase at 91.60%. Among the major municipal corporations, Jodhpur recorded the highest turnout at 71.95%, while Jaipur recorded the lowest at 63.55%. Compared with the previous urban local body elections, turnout increased by around 12 percentage points in Udaipur, 11 percentage points in Jodhpur and around 5 percentage points in Jaipur.
The first phase was held on September 9 across 162 urban local bodies, with an average voter turnout of 76.41%. Among the major municipal corporations across both phases, Bharatpur Municipal Corporation recorded the highest turnout at 73.68%.
Following the completion of polling, political parties are assessing their respective electoral calculations based on turnout figures. The increase in turnout compared with the previous election in Jodhpur and Udaipur has drawn particular attention from the political parties.
Jaipur recorded 63.55% voter turnout this time. In the previous election, Jaipur was divided into two municipal corporations, Heritage and Greater, with the two corporations recording an average turnout of around 57.5%.
The BJP is viewing the increased turnout as a possible indication in its favour. The party also has the advantage of being in power in the state. The Congress, meanwhile, maintains that dissatisfaction among voters over the functioning of the government and local representatives may have contributed to the higher turnout.
Jaipur includes the Sanganer assembly constituency represented by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Vidyadhar Nagar represented by Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari, Jhotwara represented by minister Rajyavardhan Rathore and Malviya Nagar represented by senior MLA Kalicharan Saraf. The participation of these leaders during the election campaign was also discussed.
This time, elections were held for 150 wards in Jaipur, compared with a total of 250 wards across the two corporations in the previous election. The BJP considers this change and its position in government as factors favourable to the party.
The Congress fielded several new candidates. Party leaders claim that dissatisfaction with the government among young voters, particularly the new generation, could benefit the Congress. The presence of Muslim candidates in the Walled City is also being viewed by the Congress in connection with its traditional support base.
In 2020, Jaipur was divided into Heritage and Greater municipal corporations for the election. Heritage recorded 58.31% turnout and Greater recorded 57.82% turnout.
In Heritage’s 100 wards, the Congress won 47 wards, the BJP won 42 and independents won 11. In Greater, the BJP won 88 of the 150 wards and formed the board.
Later, after Heritage Mayor Munesh Gurjar was removed from office in a corruption case, the BJP formed the board there as well with the support of eight Congress councillors.
Jodhpur recorded 71.95% turnout this time, the highest among the major municipal corporations. In the previous election, the average turnout across the two municipal corporations was around 60.7%.
The election being held for a single corporation this time, along with an increase of more than 11 percentage points in turnout, has changed the earlier political calculations.
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot are considered to have an important influence on Jodhpur politics. Following the increase in turnout, both major parties are assessing their respective support bases.
In 2020, Jodhpur was divided into North and South municipal corporations. Turnout was 62.64% in North and 58.76% in South.
In North, the Congress won 53 of the 80 wards and formed the board. In South, the BJP won 43 of the 80 wards and formed the board. The Congress won 23 wards and independents won 14.
This time, the two corporations have been replaced by a single corporation, changing the earlier political arithmetic.
Kota recorded 67.66% turnout this time, 1.89 percentage points higher than in the previous election. Although the increase was not very large, the BJP and Congress are again considered to be in a close contest, as in the previous election.
In the previous election, Kota was divided into North and South municipal corporations, and the Congress formed the board in both. With a single corporation this time, the BJP faces pressure to secure the board.
The BJP is viewing the higher turnout in its favour and cites being in government and organisational unity as its strengths. The Congress claims that voters are dissatisfied with local issues and that the party could benefit from this.
In 2020, the Congress won 47 of the 70 wards in Kota North, while the BJP won 14. In Kota South, the BJP won 36 wards, the Congress won 30 and independents won 14. The Congress formed the board with the support of independent councillors.
Udaipur recorded 69.77% turnout this time, compared with 57.81% in the previous election, an increase of around 12 percentage points. The increase has drawn the attention of political parties.
The BJP considers Udaipur one of its b support bases and is describing the higher turnout as a positive indication. The Congress argues that dissatisfaction over urban problems and local issues led more people to vote this time.
In the previous election, the BJP won 44 of Udaipur’s 70 wards and formed the board. The Congress won 20 wards. Despite turnout being only 57.81%, the BJP secured a clear lead.
Ajmer’s turnout this time did not reach the previous election’s figure. Ajmer is considered a b area for the BJP. In the city, where Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani has political influence, the rebellion by former mayor Dharmendra Gehlot has added another factor to the contest.
Dharmendra Gehlot’s wife is contesting as an independent candidate. The performance of independent candidates could therefore be important for both the BJP and Congress.
In the 2019 election, Ajmer recorded 66.17% turnout. Of the 80 wards, the BJP won 48 and the Congress won 18. The BJP formed the board with a clear majority.
Pali’s turnout remained around the level recorded in the previous election. The previous election recorded 71.35% turnout. Despite this, the BJP needed the support of independent councillors to form the board.
In the previous election, among 65 wards, the BJP won 29, the Congress won 22 and independents won 14. The BJP received the support of eight independents and succeeded in forming the board.
Following this election’s polling, both parties are watching the performance of independent candidates. If neither party secures a clear majority, independents could play a decisive role in board formation.
Tonk Municipal Council recorded 77.17% turnout this time, 3.1 percentage points higher than the 74.07% recorded in the previous election. Tonk’s election carries particular political importance because of the influence of senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot.
In 2019, the Congress won 27 of the 60 wards, the BJP won 23 and independents won 10. The Congress formed the board with the support of independents.
The BJP is viewing the increased turnout in its favour, while the Congress says its organisation and local support remain b. The final results will determine which party benefits from the higher turnout.
Turnout figures in these major urban local bodies have provided indications about the electoral contests, but an increase or decrease in voting alone does not determine which party will win. Local issues, the personal popularity of candidates, party organisation, rebel candidates and the number of independents can affect the final results.
In Jaipur, both parties are making their respective claims following the increase in turnout. The substantial increase in turnout in Jodhpur and Udaipur has drawn attention to the political calculations, while independent candidates could play an important role in board formation in urban bodies such as Pali and Tonk.
The next focus is on the election results. Only after counting will it become clear which party benefited from the increased turnout and in which urban local bodies the political picture changed compared with the previous election.
