Ajmer Mayor election: Congress shifts 42 councillors to Bengaluru before Sep 21 vote
Synopsis
With just 37 seats in an 80-ward corporation, Congress can't win Ajmer's mayoral election without Independent backing — so it has flown 42 councillors to Bengaluru to keep the coalition intact. The result on 21 September will test whether India's most familiar political playbook still works at the municipal level.
Key Takeaways
Congress moved 37 party councillors and 5 Independent councillors — a total of 42 — to Bengaluru ahead of the 21 September Ajmer mayoral vote.
The Ajmer Municipal Corporation has 80 wards ; a majority requires 41 votes .
Congress won 37 seats, BJP won 32 , and 11 went to Independents.
Congress candidate: Kiran Garhwal (Ward 57); BJP candidate: Anamika Sharma (Ward 3).
Both filed nominations on 17 September 2026 .
Former RTDC Chairman Dharmendra Rathore is leading the group in Bengaluru; councillors are scheduled to return to Ajmer on 20 September .
Congress has alleged the BJP was attempting to pressure its councillors — claims that have not been independently verified.
The Indian National Congress has moved 42 councillors — including 37 of its own elected members and 5 Independent councillors — to Bengaluru ahead of the Ajmer Municipal Corporation mayoral election scheduled for 21 September 2026. The move, orchestrated under the leadership of former Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) Chairman Dharmendra Rathore, is aimed at keeping the Congress camp intact and insulated from alleged poaching attempts by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Numbers Game in Ajmer
The Ajmer Municipal Corporation comprises 80 wards. In the most recent municipal elections, Congress secured 37 seats, the BJP won 32, and 11 seats went to Independent candidates. With the magic number for a majority set at 41 votes, the Independent councillors hold decisive swing power — making their allegiance the central battleground of this election.
Congress has claimed the backing of five Independent councillors, bringing its total tally to 42 — just enough for a bare majority. The group will remain in Bengaluru until 20 September and is expected to return to Ajmer in time for the vote the following day.
Why Bengaluru — and Why Now
The decision to relocate councillors out of Rajasthan was taken following directions from the Congress party's top leadership, according to party officials. Congress had initially housed its elected members at a venue in Pushkar before the shift to Bengaluru was approved. Rathore stated publicly that the relocation was necessitated by concerns over alleged pressure being applied to Congress councillors.
He alleged that the BJP was attempting to influence Congress-aligned councillors ahead of the vote — allegations the Congress has made but which have not been independently verified. The practice of herding councillors or legislators to a politically friendly state to prevent defection — often called 'resort politics' in Indian political parlance — has become a recurring feature of close municipal and assembly contests across the country.
The Two Candidates for Mayor
Congress has fielded Ward 57 councillor Kiran Garhwal for the mayoral post. The BJP has nominated Ward 3 councillor Anamika Sharma as its candidate. Both candidates submitted their nomination papers on Wednesday, 17 September 2026, setting up a direct two-way contest.
Garhwal has outlined her key priorities as women's safety, improved public facilities, sports infrastructure for youth, and an integrated development action plan for Ajmer. The BJP's Sharma has yet to elaborate publicly on her platform, with the party focusing its efforts on consolidating Independent support.
What Happens Next
All 80 elected councillors are scheduled to cast their votes on 21 September, with the result expected on the same day. Both the Congress and the BJP continue to lobby the remaining Independent councillors, and the outcome is expected to hinge on whether the Congress camp holds together and its claimed Independent support materialises at the ballot. The result will determine which party controls the administration of one of Rajasthan's most historically significant cities.
Point of View
Elections become logistical operations rather than mandates. If Congress holds and wins, the story is a savvy consolidation. If even one councillor breaks ranks, it becomes a cautionary tale about over-reliance on defection-prevention over genuine grassroots persuasion.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Congress moved its councillors to Bengaluru before the Ajmer mayoral election?
Congress shifted 42 councillors — 37 of its own and 5 Independents — to Bengaluru to prevent alleged poaching or pressure from the BJP ahead of the 21 September vote. Former RTDC Chairman Dharmendra Rathore said the move was taken on the direction of the party's top leadership after concerns about undue influence on councillors.
Who are the candidates for Ajmer Mayor in the September 2026 election?
Congress has fielded Ward 57 councillor Kiran Garhwal, while the BJP has nominated Ward 3 councillor Anamika Sharma. Both submitted their nominations on 17 September 2026, setting up a direct contest.
How many votes does a party need to win the Ajmer Mayor election?
A majority in the 80-ward Ajmer Municipal Corporation requires 41 votes. Congress holds 37 seats and has claimed support from 5 Independents, giving it a claimed tally of 42 — just enough for a bare majority.
When will the Ajmer mayoral election result be declared?
All 80 elected councillors are scheduled to vote on 21 September 2026, and the result is expected to be declared on the same day.
What is 'resort politics' and why is it relevant to the Ajmer election?
Resort politics refers to the practice of a political party relocating its legislators or councillors to another city or state to shield them from alleged poaching or pressure by rivals ahead of a close vote. Congress moved its councillors first to Pushkar and then to Bengaluru — a pattern seen in several close legislative contests across India in recent years.
