Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Congress Wins Pali Civic Polls, Challenging BJP's Rajasthan Stronghold
Congress won the most seats in the Pali civic election.
It won 29 of the 65 wards, while the BJP won 21.
Independent candidates won the remaining 15 wards.
Congress therefore has more seats than the BJP but does not have enough for a majority.
A party needs 33 seats to control the municipal board alone.
Pali is the home district of BJP leader Madan Rathore.
Congress also defeated the BJP in Rathore's own ward.
The Independent councillors may now decide which party controls the board.
Both major parties are expected to negotiate with them.
Congress won 29 of Pali Municipal Corporation's 65 wards, compared with 21 for the BJP.
Independent candidates won 15 wards, leaving Congress eight seats ahead of the BJP but short of the 33-seat majority.
Congress also defeated the BJP in the ward associated with Rajasthan BJP President Madan Rathore.
The BJP had controlled Pali's local body for the past 10 years.
Congress and the BJP are expected to seek support from Independent councillors, who could determine control of the municipal board.
- Who
- Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and 15 Independent councillors; Madan Rathore is also central to the result.
- What
- Congress became the largest party in Pali Municipal Corporation but did not win an outright majority.
- When
- The report does not specify the election date.
- Where
- Pali Municipal Corporation, Rajasthan.
- Why
- The result is significant because Pali is associated with BJP leader Madan Rathore and had been controlled by the BJP for 10 years.
Congress
Bharatiya Janata Party
Control of the municipal board
Congress
Congress is the largest party and is expected to seek support from the 15 Independent councillors to reach the majority mark and claim the Mayor's post.
Bharatiya Janata Party
The BJP is expected to try to win over the Independent councillors to prevent Congress from taking control.
Meaning of the result
Congress
Congress's performance is presented as a major gain in a traditional BJP stronghold and a significant setback for the BJP.
Bharatiya Janata Party
Although the BJP finished second, it could still influence the outcome by negotiating with the Independent councillors.
- Total wards
- 65
- Congress seats
- 29
- BJP seats
- 21
- Independent seats
- 15
- Majority mark
- 33 seats
- Previous BJP control
- 10 years
- Political significance
- Congress defeated the BJP in Madan Rathore's own ward.