Saroj Kanwar elected Jaipur's first female Deputy Mayor, beats Congress by 31 votes
Synopsis
History was made in Jaipur on 26 September as Saroj Kanwar became the city's first-ever female Deputy Mayor, sweeping to victory in her debut electoral contest. Her 31-vote win over the Congress candidate, following close on the heels of BJP's Sunil Kothari winning the mayoral race, hands the BJP uncontested control of Jaipur's civic leadership.
Key Takeaways
Saroj Kanwar (BJP) was elected Deputy Mayor of Jaipur Municipal Corporation on 26 September 2026 , the first woman to hold the post.
She defeated Congress candidate Salman Mansoori by 31 votes — securing 89 votes against his 58 .
Of 150 eligible councillors, 149 voted; Vandita Sharma (Congress) missed the vote due to a leg injury.
Kanwar is the wife of former BJP state secretary Ranjeet Singh Sodala and contested a councillor election for the first time before rising to Deputy Mayor.
The election followed BJP 's Sunil Kothari winning the Mayor's post, giving the party full control of Jaipur's civic leadership.
Saroj Kanwar, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, was elected Deputy Mayor of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation on 26 September 2026, becoming the first woman ever to hold the post in the city. She defeated Indian National Congress candidate Salman Mansoori by a margin of 31 votes in an election held under tight security at the Corporation headquarters.
Vote Count and Margin
Of the 150 councillors eligible to vote, 149 participated in the exercise. Congress councillor Vandita Sharma was unable to cast her vote owing to a leg injury. Kanwar secured 89 votes, while Mansoori received 58. One vote was registered for NOTA, and one ballot was declared invalid.
Who Is Saroj Kanwar
Kanwar entered electoral politics for the first time by contesting a councillor election, rising directly to the Deputy Mayor post on the strength of that debut victory. She is the wife of Ranjeet Singh Sodala, a former BJP state secretary and state president of the Ravna Rajput community. The BJP had fielded her as its councillor candidate before supporting her elevation to the Deputy Mayor's seat.
Security and Proceedings
The election was conducted under strict security protocols. Police personnel were posted at the entrance to the Municipal Corporation headquarters, and all councillors underwent security checks before being allowed inside. Mayor Sunil Kothari also arrived at the headquarters to cast his vote. This comes shortly after Kothari himself was elected Mayor of Jaipur in the recently concluded mayoral election, in which both parties kept their councillors at designated camps to manage bloc discipline.
Celebrations and BJP Outreach
Jubilant scenes unfolded outside the Corporation headquarters immediately after the result was declared. BJP workers and supporters lifted Ranjeet Singh Sodala onto their shoulders in celebration. Notably, the BJP had also reached out to independent councillors ahead of polling, claiming their support — a move that appears to have contributed to the comfortable winning margin. Several senior BJP leaders were present for the occasion, and Kanwar is expected to assume office shortly.
The twin victories of Kothari as Mayor and Kanwar as Deputy Mayor consolidate the BJP's grip on Jaipur's civic administration, reinforcing the party's dominance in the Rajasthan capital following the state's broader political shift toward the BJP in recent elections.
Point of View
But the story beneath the milestone is one of consolidated party power. The BJP now controls both the mayoral and deputy mayoral seats in Rajasthan's capital, a civic sweep that mirrors its strong state-level position. Kanwar's rapid ascent — from first-time councillor candidate to Deputy Mayor in a single election cycle — underscores how party machinery, not grassroots organising, drives municipal outcomes in large Indian cities. The 31-vote margin also suggests the BJP's outreach to independents was both deliberate and effective, a template likely to be replicated in upcoming urban body elections across the state.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Saroj Kanwar and why is her election historic?
Saroj Kanwar is a BJP councillor who was elected Deputy Mayor of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation on 26 September 2026, becoming the first woman to hold that position in Jaipur's history. She won in her very first electoral contest, having entered politics by contesting the councillor election before her elevation to the Deputy Mayor's post.
By how many votes did Saroj Kanwar win?
Kanwar won by a margin of 31 votes, securing 89 of the 149 valid votes cast, while Congress candidate Salman Mansoori received 58. One vote went to NOTA and one was declared invalid.
Why could not all 150 councillors vote?
Congress councillor Vandita Sharma was unable to participate in the Deputy Mayor election due to a leg injury, reducing the effective voter count to 149 out of a total of 150 councillors.
Who is Sunil Kothari and how does his election relate to this?
Sunil Kothari is the BJP's Mayor of Jaipur, elected in the mayoral election that preceded the Deputy Mayor vote. With Kanwar now elected as Deputy Mayor, the BJP controls both top positions in the Jaipur Municipal Corporation.
What is Saroj Kanwar's political background?
Kanwar is a first-time elected official who entered politics by contesting the councillor election on a BJP ticket. She is the wife of Ranjeet Singh Sodala, a former BJP state secretary and state president of the Ravna Rajput community.
