Archive · 14 Sep 2026
BJP Leads Rajasthan Civic Polls as Congress Wins Bikaner
Rajasthan held elections for many local governments, including city councils and municipal corporations.
The BJP won the most wards overall among the results reported.
It secured clear majorities in Kota, Udaipur, and Bhilwara, and was ahead in Jaipur and Alwar.
Congress won Bikaner and led in Ajmer and Pali.
In some cities, neither major party won enough seats to govern alone.
Independent candidates may decide who controls those cities.
BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi called the results a major victory for his party.
The final mayoral results are expected on September 21.
The BJP won clear majorities in Kota, Udaipur, and Bhilwara.
The BJP edged ahead of Congress in Jaipur and Alwar.
Congress won Bikaner and led in Ajmer and Pali without clear majorities.
Jodhpur was tied at 44 wards each for BJP and Congress, with Independents winning 10.
Final mayoral outcomes in several cities will depend on Independents and post-poll support, with results due September 21.
- Who
- The Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress, Independents, and other parties contested the elections; BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi commented on the results.
- What
- Rajasthan urban local body elections produced a BJP lead overall, with Congress winning Bikaner and leading in some other cities.
- When
- Results were reported on September 14, 2026; final mayoral outcomes are expected on September 21.
- Where
- Across Rajasthan's urban local bodies, including Jaipur, Kota, Udaipur, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Ajmer, Pali, Alwar, Jodhpur, and Bharatpur.
- Why
- The elections determined control of municipal corporations, councils, and boards.
BJP's Interpretation
Mixed Electoral Picture
Meaning of the results
BJP's Interpretation
Sudhanshu Trivedi called the outcome a spectacular or splendid BJP victory and said it reflected growing public support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.
Mixed Electoral Picture
The reported results were not uniformly decisive: Congress won Bikaner, led in Ajmer and Pali, Jodhpur was tied, and Independents held a decisive position in several cities.
Kota and Rahul Gandhi's campaign
BJP's Interpretation
The BJP said its victory in Kota showed that Rahul Gandhi's Chhatron Ki Goonj campaign represented more propaganda than reality.
Mixed Electoral Picture
The reports establish that Rahul Gandhi launched the student-focused campaign in Kota, but they do not include a Congress response to the BJP's characterization.
Municipal corporation divisions
BJP's Interpretation
Trivedi said results in Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Kota showed voters had rejected the policy of dividing municipal corporations.
Mixed Electoral Picture
The articles report Trivedi's claim but provide no separate voter survey or Congress explanation supporting or disputing it.
- Bodies contested
- 309 urban local bodies: 10 municipal corporations, 47 municipal councils, and 252 municipal boards.
- Reported ward totals
- The BJP had won more than 4,171 wards versus Congress's 3,597 among at least 10,200 declared wards.
- Kota
- BJP won 53 of 100 wards.
- Udaipur
- BJP won 53 of 80 wards.
- Bhilwara
- BJP won 45 of 70 wards.
- Bikaner
- Congress won the city, according to the reports.
- Jodhpur
- BJP and Congress each won 44 wards, while Independents won 10.
- Final mayoral decisions
- Outcomes in several cities are expected to depend on Independents or post-poll support; final results are due September 21.
