Congress wins Pali Municipal Corporation, BJP's Madan Rathore loses home ward
Synopsis
Congress has broken the BJP's decade-long grip on Pali Municipal Corporation — and done it in the backyard of Rajasthan BJP President Madan Rathore, winning even his own ward. With 15 Independents now holding the keys to the Mayor's post, the real political battle for Pali is only just beginning.
Key Takeaways
Congress won 29 of 65 wards in Pali Municipal Corporation on 14 September 2026 , emerging as the single largest party.
BJP secured only 21 seats , ending its 10-year control of the Pali local body.
Congress defeated the BJP in the ward of Rajasthan BJP President Madan Rathore , his home district stronghold.
15 Independent Councillors hold the balance of power; 33 seats are needed for an outright majority.
Both Congress and BJP are expected to court Independents in intense negotiations over the Mayor's post .
The Indian National Congress has dealt a significant blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rajasthan's Pali Municipal Corporation, emerging as the single largest party in the 65-member civic body and defeating the BJP even in the ward associated with Rajasthan BJP President Madan Rathore. The results, declared on 14 September 2026, mark the first major shift in Pali's local politics in a decade.
Ward-by-Ward Scoreboard
Congress secured 29 of 65 wards, while the BJP managed only 21 seats — a deficit of eight. Independent candidates claimed the remaining 15 wards, giving them decisive leverage over who ultimately controls the municipal board. Congress fell four seats short of the 33-seat majority threshold required to form the civic government outright.
Why Pali Carries Outsized Symbolism
Pali is the home district of Madan Rathore, who has served as the BJP's Pali district president multiple times and won the Sumerpur assembly seat twice as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). The BJP had held control of the Pali local body for the past ten years. Congress not only ended that run but also won in Rathore's own ward, a result that observers say underscores the depth of the BJP's reversal in the region.
Independents Hold the Balance of Power
With 15 Independent Councillors effectively acting as kingmakers, neither Congress nor the BJP can stake an uncontested claim to the Mayor's post. Congress will need to secure the backing of at least four Independent Councillors to cross the majority threshold. The BJP, meanwhile, is expected to mount its own bid to win over the same bloc and block Congress from taking administrative control of the civic body.
What Comes Next
Political negotiations in Pali are expected to intensify in the days ahead, with Independent Councillors commanding significant bargaining power. The outcome of these backroom discussions will determine whether Congress converts its electoral lead into executive control of one of Rajasthan's more symbolically charged municipal bodies. This result is being widely read as one of the most consequential outcomes of the broader Rajasthan local body elections, given Pali's direct association with the BJP's state unit leadership.
Point of View
The party risks winning the battle and losing the board. How it handles the post-result negotiations will be as telling as the result itself.
NationPress
14 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Pali Municipal Corporation election in 2026?
The Indian National Congress emerged as the single largest party in the Pali Municipal Corporation election, winning 29 of 65 wards on 14 September 2026. The BJP came second with 21 seats, and 15 Independent candidates also won.
Why is the Pali result significant for the BJP?
Pali is the home district of Rajasthan BJP President Madan Rathore, a two-time MLA from Sumerpur who has served as the BJP's Pali district president multiple times. Congress not only ended the BJP's ten-year hold on the civic body but also won in Rathore's own ward, amplifying the political embarrassment.
Can Congress form the municipal board in Pali?
Not independently. Congress won 29 seats but needs 33 for an outright majority. It will need to secure the support of at least four of the 15 Independent Councillors to stake its claim to the Mayor's post.
What role will Independent Councillors play in Pali?
With 15 Independent Councillors holding the balance of power, they are effectively kingmakers. Both Congress and the BJP are expected to court them actively; the side that wins their backing will control the municipal board and the Mayor's post.
How long did the BJP hold Pali Municipal Corporation before this election?
The BJP had controlled the Pali local body for the past ten years. The 2026 municipal election result marks the first major political shift in the corporation in a decade.
