The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pulled off a striking political manoeuvre in Rajasthan's civic body elections on 21 September 2026, capturing the mayoral posts in Ajmer and Pali despite the Indian National Congress (Congress) holding more elected councillor seats in both municipalities. The Congress, however, retained Bikaner, where it commanded a clear ward-level majority.

Ajmer and Pali: How BJP Won Without a Ward Majority

In Ajmer Municipal Corporation, BJP's Anamika Sharma was elected mayor with 43 votes, even though the BJP had won only 32 of the 80 councillor seats. The Congress had emerged as the largest party with 37 seats, but fell short of the 41-seat majority mark. The remaining 11 Independent councillors proved decisive, with a significant bloc backing Sharma over the Congress nominee.

A similar script played out in Pali, where BJP's Namita Bubakia secured the mayoral post with 33 votes. The BJP had won only 21 councillor seats against Congress's 29 seats. Congress candidate Sumitra Jain received just three votes. With 15 Independent councillors in play, their overwhelming support for the BJP candidate proved critical. The outcome underscored how post-poll alliance-building, rather than ward-level arithmetic, determined control in these closely contested corporations.

BJP's Clear Wins in Udaipur and Alwar

The BJP faced no such challenge in Udaipur, where Paras Singhvi was elected mayor after the party had won 53 of 80 wards — a comfortable outright majority. In Alwar, BJP's Sumanlata Agarwal defeated Congress candidate Kamlesh Sharma by 42 votes to 23. In Bharatpur, BJP's Anuradha Singh arrived to take her oath as mayor, with remaining councillors scheduled to do so the following day.

Notably, Udaipur City MLA Tarachand Jain stayed away from the voting process and remained at his office roughly 100 metres from the corporation premises, reportedly monitoring developments by phone. Jain had also kept his distance during Singhvi's nomination filing, amid reports of internal differences over the mayoral candidate selection.

Congress Holds Bikaner; Wins Anta by a Single Vote

In Bikaner, Congress leader Anil Kalla — nephew of former minister B.D. Kalla — was elected mayor. The Congress had won 42 of the 80 wards, crossing the majority mark on its own. In Baran district's Anta municipality, Congress candidate Pradeep Nagar won the chairperson's post by a single vote — securing 18 votes against BJP's Dhanraj Chaurasia's 17. Both parties had won 16 councillor seats each, with three Independents holding the balance; two backed Congress and one backed the BJP. The result extended Congress's unbroken run in Anta to a fourth consecutive term.

In Baran district's Atru municipality, Congress candidate Nisha Nainwal defeated Krishna Murari Dilawar — brother of Education Minister Madan Dilawar — by three votes.

Tension in Shri Vijaynagar; Allegations of Abduction and Gunfire

The day was not without turbulence. Ahead of the chairperson election in Shri Vijaynagar municipality of Sri Ganganagar district, a clash broke out between Congress supporters and police, during which a police officer reportedly sustained a head injury. Congress leader Tika Ram Jully had a heated exchange with Additional SP (Rural) Priyanka Raghuvanshi after Congress councillors entered a barricaded area to cast their votes. Jully questioned how BJP chairperson candidate Puran Chand Meena had entered the restricted area without police permission, and reportedly suggested that officials were acting in the BJP's interests.

Separately, reports emerged of alleged gunfire near a nursery on Bajuwala Road. Congress leaders alleged that councillors Mangatram (Ward 20), Pyarelal (Ward 21), and Independent councillor Vijay Kumar (Ward 13) had been abducted. Families of the three filed a complaint at Shri Vijaynagar police station, and staged a protest demanding immediate action. Raisingh-Nagar DSP Hanuman Singh reached the station, and additional personnel were deployed. However, both the allegations of gunfire and abduction had not been officially confirmed by police or the administration at the time of reporting.

Other Results Across Rajasthan

In Churu Municipal Council, BJP's Vinay Goenka was elected chairperson with 34 votes, defeating Congress candidate Sanjay Bhati, who received 26 votes. In Sikrai municipality, BJP's Kailash Bairwa defeated Congress candidate Kailash Baswal by a single vote; Sub-Divisional Returning Officer Manoj Verma administered the oath. In Mundawar municipality of Khairthal-Tijara district, BJP's Mahendra Gurjar defeated Congress candidate Manisha Bai Gurjar by nine votes.

The broader pattern across Rajasthan's civic polls confirms a BJP-dominant showing at the ward level in major urban centres, while the Congress managed to hold its own strongholds and, in several smaller municipalities, benefit from Independent backing. The role of Independents and cross-party support has emerged as the defining variable of this election cycle, with further oath-taking ceremonies and result certifications expected in the coming days.