Rajasthan civic polls: Congress wins Vasundhara Raje's Jhalawar; Independents dominate Bharatpur
Synopsis
Congress has captured Vasundhara Raje's home turf of Jhalawar with a commanding 29-of-45-ward sweep, while Independents — not the BJP or Congress — have emerged as Bharatpur's dominant force with 36 of 65 wards. The Rajasthan civic poll results reveal a fragmented urban electorate where even AAP has found an unlikely foothold in Baran.
Key Takeaways
Congress won 29 of 45 wards in Jhalawar Municipal Council , the stronghold of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje .
Independents dominated Bharatpur Municipal Corporation , claiming 36 of 65 wards ahead of BJP's 20 and Congress's seven.
BJP won Barmer Municipal Council with 29 of 55 wards — its first majority there in 15 years .
AAP secured a surprise majority in Baran Municipal Council , winning 31 of 60 wards .
Elections covered 35,000+ candidates across 299 urban bodies ; voter turnout ranged from 71.69% to 76.41% across two phases.
Congress has dealt a symbolic blow to former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje by securing control of Jhalawar Municipal Council, her long-held political stronghold, as results trickle in for Rajasthan's 47 Municipal Councils and 252 Municipalities on 14 September 2026. The outcomes are reshaping the state's urban political map ahead of future electoral contests.
Key Results at a Glance
In Jhalawar Municipal Council, Congress swept 29 of 45 wards, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managing only 13 wards. Independents claimed two wards and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) one. The result is a direct rebuke in a constituency closely associated with Raje's political legacy.
In Bharatpur Municipal Corporation, Independent candidates pulled off the contest's biggest upset — winning 36 of 65 wards to emerge as the dominant force. The BJP trailed with 20 wards, while Congress secured just seven, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) one, and the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) one.
BJP Makes Gains, AAP Surprises
Not all results went against the ruling party at the Centre. In Barmer Municipal Council, the BJP secured a majority for the first time in 15 years, winning 29 of 55 wards. The party also led in Churu Municipal Council, taking 30 of 60 wards against Congress's 24, with Independents accounting for six.
AAP, which has struggled to establish a foothold in Rajasthan, recorded a notable performance in Baran Municipal Council, winning 31 of 60 wards — a clear majority. Congress came second with 18 wards, the BJP third with nine, and Independents two.
Notable Individual Contests
In Nagaur Municipal Council, the BJP is leading overall, though the party's former district president Ramniwas Sankhla lost in Ward 7. In Ward 10, Congress candidate Praveen Solanki — son of former chairman Kriparam Solanki — won despite his maternal uncle and former chairman Mangilal Bhati having backed the BJP rival, underscoring fractured family loyalties that often define local body elections.
In Sikar Municipal Council's Ward 11, Yash Jaldhari of the BJP — grandson of former MLA Ratanlal Jaldhari — secured victory, illustrating the dynastic thread running through local politics across parties.
In Jaisalmer Municipal Council, partial results covering 21 wards showed the BJP ahead with 12 seats, Congress on six, and Independents on three.
Scale and Voter Turnout
The elections covered contests for more than 35,000 candidates across Rajasthan's urban local bodies. Voting was conducted in two phases on 9 and 11 September. The first phase — covering 162 urban bodies — recorded a turnout of 76.41%, while the second phase across 147 urban bodies saw 71.69% participation. Both figures indicate robust civic engagement in the state's urban electorate.
With counting still under way for several councils, the final picture will determine which parties control municipal budgets, infrastructure decisions, and patronage networks across Rajasthan's urban centres — a significant political prize ahead of the next assembly cycle.
Point of View
At a time when her influence within the BJP remains contested. But the real story may be Bharatpur, where Independents outpolled both national parties combined, signalling deep disillusionment with organised political machinery at the local level. AAP's Baran breakthrough, meanwhile, shows the party is probing Rajasthan's edges even as it lacks a coherent state strategy. Taken together, the results suggest that Rajasthan's urban voter is increasingly transactional — rewarding local credibility over party label — a trend that could complicate both parties' calculations heading into the next assembly election.
NationPress
14 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Jhalawar Municipal Council election in Rajasthan?
Congress won the Jhalawar Municipal Council, securing 29 of 45 wards. The BJP managed 13 wards, while Independents won two and AAP one. Jhalawar is considered the political stronghold of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.
What happened in the Bharatpur Municipal Corporation election?
Independent candidates emerged as the dominant force in Bharatpur Municipal Corporation, winning 36 of 65 wards. The BJP secured 20 wards, Congress seven, BSP one, and RLP one — making Independents the single largest bloc.
Which party won the Baran Municipal Council election?
AAP won a clear majority in Baran Municipal Council, capturing 31 of 60 wards. Congress came second with 18 wards, the BJP third with nine, and Independents two — a surprise result for a party with limited footprint in Rajasthan.
How many candidates contested Rajasthan's 2026 civic polls and what was the voter turnout?
More than 35,000 candidates contested elections across 47 Municipal Councils and 252 Municipalities. Voting was held in two phases on 9 and 11 September 2026; the first phase recorded 76.41% turnout across 162 urban bodies, and the second phase 71.69% across 147 urban bodies.
Where did the BJP perform well in the Rajasthan civic polls?
The BJP secured a majority in Barmer Municipal Council for the first time in 15 years, winning 29 of 55 wards. It also led in Churu Municipal Council with 30 of 60 wards and was ahead in partial results from Jaisalmer Municipal Council.
