In a dramatic political manoeuvre ahead of the Jaipur mayoral election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reportedly moved around 84 councillors from a resort on Ajmer Road to Pushkar late on Friday night, just hours before Saturday's final deadline for filing nominations. The councillors are reportedly being housed at The Surya Golden Palace hotel in Pushkar, with the BJP yet to officially announce its mayoral candidate.

What Prompted the Move

According to sources, the shift came amid mounting internal uncertainty within the BJP over who should be fielded for the Jaipur Mayor's post. The party had not officially announced any nominee even as Friday — the penultimate day for nominations — passed without any representative of a BJP aspirant reportedly collecting nomination papers.

The relocation of councillors to an out-of-city hotel is widely seen as a holding measure to prevent cross-pressures and manage internal consensus while the party's leadership finalises a name. This is a common — if rarely acknowledged — political tactic used ahead of civic body elections in India to consolidate bloc votes and prevent poaching by rival factions.

Deputy CM Diya Kumari's Consultations

Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari had earlier met BJP councillors to gauge their preferences for the mayoral post. The discussions were reportedly conducted both individually and in groups. Following these meetings, councillors were reportedly asked to write down three names in order of preference — a process designed to give the leadership a data-driven basis for its final call.

Sources indicate that some councillors — specifically those who are potential mayoral candidates themselves and their proposers — have been kept back in Jaipur rather than shifted to Pushkar.

Councillor vs Non-Councillor: The 'Hybrid' Question

A parallel debate within the BJP concerns candidate eligibility. Under Rajasthan's municipal rules, a person who is not an elected councillor can legally head a civic body. This provision has opened up the possibility of a so-called 'hybrid' choice — a non-councillor candidate — which the party has not ruled out. The question of whether to go with an elected councillor or an outside name is reportedly adding to the delay in formalising the nomination.

Congress Readies Its Challenge

The Indian National Congress (Congress) has been actively preparing to contest the mayoral election and has reportedly already collected its nomination papers. With the BJP still in deliberation mode, the Congress appears to have a procedural head start heading into the final hours of the nomination window.

Speculation about a frontrunner name has been circulating on social media, though BJP leaders have cautioned that no name should be treated as confirmed until a formal party announcement is made. With Saturday being the last day for nominations, the BJP faces the pressure of settling its internal differences and completing formalities before the window closes.