Rajasthan: RLP's Alka Kandoi retains Mundwa Municipal Council chairperson post
Synopsis
In a stunning upset, the BJP entered Mundwa's chairperson election controlling 14 of 20 votes — yet its official candidate, Geeta, received zero. RLP's Alka Kandoi won with 13, aided by Congress and a BJP rebel, securing a second consecutive term and exposing a deep internal split in the ruling party's local unit.
Key Takeaways
RLP candidate Alka Kandoi re-elected chairperson of Mundwa Municipal Council, Nagaur for a second consecutive term on 21 September 2026 .
Kandoi polled 13 votes against independent Ghanshyam Sadawat's 12 in the 20-member house .
BJP's official candidate Geeta received zero votes despite the party commanding a 14-councillor bloc.
The RLP-Congress coalition, backed by a BJP rebel councillor, held a base strength of 11 — the exact majority required.
Results in 32 Rajasthan civic bodies , including Bhilwara and Bharatpur municipal corporations, were decided unopposed.
Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) candidate Alka Kandoi has been re-elected chairperson of the Mundwa Municipal Council in Nagaur district, Rajasthan, winning the post for a second consecutive term. Kandoi polled 13 votes, narrowly defeating independent candidate Ghanshyam Sadawat, who secured 12 votes, in a contest that produced one of the more striking outcomes of the state's civic polls cycle.
Key Developments in the Chairperson Election
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had entered the election as the strongest force in the 20-member house, having won 10 councillor seats and secured the backing of 4 independent councillors, giving it an effective camp strength of 14. The threshold for victory was 11 votes. Despite holding a numerical advantage, the BJP's official chairperson candidate, Geeta, received zero votes — arguably the most startling result of the election.
How the RLP-Congress Camp Secured Victory
The RLP had won 7 councillor seats in the municipal elections, while the Indian National Congress (Congress) contributed 3 seats. Together, the RLP-Congress camp also attracted the support of a BJP rebel councillor, lifting its effective strength to 11 — precisely the majority required. The final tally of 13 for Kandoi suggests that further cross-voting occurred on the day of the chairperson election, beyond the base coalition's stated numbers.
The BJP's Internal Rebellion and Its Consequences
The party's internal divisions played a direct role in shaping the outcome. When the BJP selected Geeta — a first-time elected councillor — as its chairperson candidate, it bypassed senior figures including Ghanshyam Sadawat and Ramakant Sharma. Sadawat refused to accept the decision, broke away from the party line, and contested as an independent. The zero-vote result for the BJP's official nominee indicates that even party-aligned councillors did not vote as directed, reflecting deep fissures within the local unit.
Broader Context: Rajasthan Civic Election Results
The Mundwa result is part of a wider round of civic body elections across Rajasthan. Notably, results in 32 civic bodies — including the Bhilwara and Bharatpur municipal corporations — had already been decided unopposed, without contested polls. Mundwa's contested and closely watched chairperson election therefore stands out in the state's civic landscape. The outcome reinforces the RLP's foothold in the Nagaur region, a stronghold of party chief Hanuman Beniwal, and signals the continued relevance of smaller regional parties in local governance battles even as the BJP governs Rajasthan at the state level.
With Kandoi securing a second term, attention will now turn to how the BJP rebuilds cohesion within its Mundwa unit ahead of future elections.
Point of View
Holding Mundwa against a numerically superior opponent reinforces its grip on Nagaur's local politics and demonstrates the value of coalition arithmetic over raw seat counts. The BJP's Rajasthan unit will need to examine why rebel tendencies repeatedly surface at the municipal level even as the party controls the state government — a disconnect that, if unaddressed, could compound in the next state cycle.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Mundwa Municipal Council chairperson election in Rajasthan?
RLP candidate Alka Kandoi won the Mundwa Municipal Council chairperson election, polling 13 votes against independent Ghanshyam Sadawat's 12. This is her second consecutive term as chairperson of the council in Nagaur district.
Why did the BJP's candidate receive zero votes despite having 14 councillors?
The BJP's official candidate Geeta received zero votes because internal dissent within the party's local unit prevented bloc voting. Senior BJP figure Ghanshyam Sadawat, who was bypassed during candidate selection, contested as an independent and drew votes away from the official nominee.
How did the RLP win despite having fewer councillors than the BJP?
The RLP held 7 seats while Congress held 3, forming a base coalition of 10. Support from a BJP rebel councillor brought their strength to 11 — the minimum majority in the 20-member house. On the day of the vote, Kandoi's final tally of 13 suggests further cross-voting occurred from the BJP camp.
Who is Ghanshyam Sadawat and why did he contest independently?
Ghanshyam Sadawat is a senior local BJP figure who was denied the party's chairperson ticket when the BJP chose first-time councillor Geeta instead. He refused to accept the decision and contested as an independent, ultimately finishing second with 12 votes.
What is the broader significance of the Mundwa result in Rajasthan's civic polls?
Mundwa was one of the few contested chairperson elections in this round — 32 civic bodies, including the Bhilwara and Bharatpur municipal corporations, returned results unopposed. The Mundwa outcome highlights the RLP's continued dominance in Nagaur and exposes BJP's difficulty in maintaining local-unit discipline.
