Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Rajasthan Civic Polls Shift to Number Games Before Counting
Rajasthan’s civic election voting has finished, but the political competition is continuing.
The votes will be counted on September 14.
The Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress are keeping their candidates together in hotels, resorts and other places.
This practice is called ‘barabandi’.
Parties do this to stop candidates from changing sides or voting differently.
Independent councillors may become very important when the parties try to form municipal boards.
BJP leaders say they expect strong victories in some places.
Congress is also moving and keeping its candidates together before chairperson elections.
With voting complete, BJP and Congress are gathering candidates ahead of September 14 counting.
The parties are using ‘barabandi’ to prevent poaching and cross-voting before board formation.
BJP candidates have been assembled in Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Chittorgarh and other districts.
Congress candidates from Viratnagar and Pawta-Pragpura are staying at a Neemrana resort until the chairperson election.
Independent councillors are expected to determine control of several municipal boards.
- Who
- The Bharatiya Janata Party, the Indian National Congress, their councillor candidates and independent councillors.
- What
- The parties have begun ‘barabandi’ and are securing candidates ahead of vote counting and municipal board formation.
- When
- Voting has ended; counting is scheduled for September 14, with some candidates staying together until September 21 or 22.
- Where
- Across Rajasthan, including Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Kotputli, Neemrana, Dungarpur’s Sagwara and Mount Abu.
- Why
- To prevent poaching and cross-voting, coordinate strategy and prepare for municipal board and chairperson elections.
Congress Position
BJP Position
Candidate management
Congress Position
The Indian National Congress has lodged candidates together in Neemrana and reportedly moved candidates from Sagwara to Mount Abu.
BJP Position
The Bharatiya Janata Party has assembled candidates in multiple districts, including Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur and Chittorgarh, for stays and training.
Expected election outcome
Congress Position
The report describes Congress preparations but does not provide a specific public seat projection from the party.
BJP Position
BJP Udaipur district president Gajpal Singh Rathore claimed the party would win more than 60 wards and form the board with a historic majority.
Post-election strategy
Congress Position
Congress is preparing candidates for the September 21 chairperson election and the wider board-formation process.
BJP Position
BJP is coordinating candidates and discussing policies, strategy and ward-level feedback while seeking to prevent poaching and cross-voting.
- Counting date
- September 14
- Chairperson elections
- Scheduled for September 21, according to the report
- Jaipur BJP stay
- Candidates were asked to carry belongings for a stay until September 22
- Udaipur BJP candidates
- All 80 candidates were assembled at a hotel for training and ward-wise feedback
- Ajmer BJP candidates
- 41 North constituency candidates and 37 South constituency candidates were gathered
- Congress candidates in Neemrana
- About 70 candidates from Viratnagar and Pawta-Pragpura municipalities were lodged at a resort
- Main factor
- Independent councillors are expected to play a decisive role in several municipal boards