Jaipur civic polls: BJP leads with 69 wards, ex-mayor Khandelwal loses
Synopsis
The Jaipur Municipal Corporation count has delivered its standout upset: former mayor Jyoti Khandelwal, who crossed the floor from Congress to BJP, has lost her ward. With the BJP leading on 69 seats but Independent candidates holding 14, the race for the Pink City's mayoral chair is far from settled — and internal BJP fault lines are already cracking open.
Key Takeaways
BJP leads the Jaipur Municipal Corporation elections with 69 wards won, against Congress 's 49 and Independents ' 14 , with 132 of 150 results declared.
Former mayor Jyoti Khandelwal , who switched from Congress to BJP, has been defeated — a major individual upset.
Khandelwal had been seen as the BJP's likely mayoral candidate; her loss directly complicates the party's leadership plans.
Internal dissent and local opposition within BJP were cited by political observers as key factors in her defeat.
Polling was held on 11 September with a voter turnout of 63.55% ; counting is at Shri Bhawani Niketan College , Sikar Road.
With 14 Independents already elected, they could emerge as kingmakers if the BJP falls short of the 76-ward majority mark .
In a significant upset in the Jaipur Municipal Corporation elections, Jyoti Khandelwal, a former mayor who had switched from the Indian National Congress to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been voted out — marking one of the most consequential individual defeats in the 14 September 2026 count. As results trickle in across all 150 wards, the BJP holds a clear lead but the final picture is still emerging.
Current Tally and the Big Upset
With results declared in 132 of the 150 wards, the BJP has won 69 wards, the Congress has secured 49, and Independent candidates have taken 14. Counting continues for the remaining wards, and the final composition of the municipal board is yet to be confirmed.
Khandelwal's defeat stands out sharply against that backdrop. She had been widely regarded as the BJP's frontrunner for the mayoral post, making her loss a direct blow to the party's leadership calculations for Jaipur — Rajasthan's most prominent urban centre.
Why Khandelwal Lost
Political observers attribute her defeat to a combination of factors: internal dissent over her candidature, local-level opposition during the campaign, and a strong Congress challenge in her ward. Reports suggest that her switch from Congress to BJP had not been universally welcomed within BJP circles, fuelling factional undercurrents that reportedly played out at the booth level.
This comes amid a broader pattern visible in several Indian urban elections where party-switchers face resistance from ground-level workers who remain loyal to the original candidate or faction. Khandelwal's defeat, analysts say, could now intensify internal fault lines within the BJP as it moves toward electing a mayor.
The Voting and Counting Process
Polling across the 150 wards was held on 11 September, with Jaipur recording a voter turnout of 63.55%. A total of 723 candidates contested, with their fates sealed in electronic voting machines. Vote counting is being conducted at Shri Bhawani Niketan College on Sikar Road, with the District Election Commission deploying 15 control rooms and more than 150 counting tables.
Both the BJP and the Congress had publicly claimed before counting that they would secure a clear majority — claims that the partial results have not yet fully validated for either side.
What the Independent Factor Means
Independent candidates winning 14 wards so far introduces a critical variable. If the BJP falls short of the 76-ward majority mark once all results are declared, Independent councillors could become kingmakers in the board formation — and, by extension, in determining who occupies the mayor's chair. Several of those Independents are reportedly party rebels, adding another layer of complexity to any post-result negotiation.
What Happens Next
The remaining ward results are expected to provide a definitive picture of whether the BJP can command a majority on its own. The party's prospects for the mayoral race have already shifted with Khandelwal's exit from contention. Whichever alliance or formation controls the Jaipur Municipal Corporation will shape the administrative and developmental agenda of the Pink City for the coming years.
Point of View
The party must now scramble for an alternative face while managing the optics of a prominent loss amid an otherwise creditable ward tally. The Independent factor — 14 seats and counting — is the real wildcard. If the BJP misses the majority mark, it will need to negotiate with rebels it was fighting days ago, a dynamic that could mirror the fragility seen in Rajasthan's own state-level coalition politics. The Congress, far from eliminated, has a fighting position at 49 wards and will watch those Independent numbers very closely.
NationPress
14 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the latest results in the Jaipur Municipal Corporation elections?
As of 14 September 2026, with 132 of 150 wards declared, the BJP has won 69 wards, the Congress has secured 49, and Independent candidates have won 14. Counting for the remaining wards is still underway.
Who is Jyoti Khandelwal and why does her defeat matter?
Jyoti Khandelwal is a former mayor of Jaipur who switched from the Congress to the BJP ahead of these elections. She was considered the BJP's frontrunner for the mayoral post, making her defeat a significant setback to the party's leadership calculations for the Pink City's civic administration.
Why did Jyoti Khandelwal lose in the Jaipur civic polls?
Political observers point to a mix of internal dissent over her candidature, local-level opposition within BJP ranks, and a strong challenge from the Congress in her ward. Her defection from Congress to BJP reportedly did not sit well with sections of BJP's grassroots workers.
When was polling held and what was the voter turnout?
Polling across all 150 wards of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation was held on 11 September, with the city recording a voter turnout of 63.55%. A total of 723 candidates contested the election.
Will the BJP be able to form the municipal board on its own?
That depends on the remaining ward results. The BJP needs 76 of 150 wards for a majority. With 69 won and counting ongoing, the final tally will determine whether the party can govern independently or must rely on Independent councillors — several of whom are reported to be party rebels — to form a majority.
