Archive · 20 Sep 2026
BJP’s Kothari, Congress’s Mahawar Set for Jaipur Mayor Contest
Jaipur is choosing a new mayor.
The BJP has chosen Sunil Kothari as its candidate.
Congress has chosen Sunita Mahawar.
The election will take place on September 25.
The city corporation has 150 councillors.
The BJP has 78 councillors, while Congress has 57 and Independents have 15.
This gives the BJP a majority, but Independent councillors could still matter.
Both parties are trying to gather enough support before voting.
The BJP has nominated Sunil Kothari, while Congress has fielded Sunita Mahawar for Jaipur’s mayoral election.
Kothari represents Ward-112 and Mahawar represents Ward-118 in the Jaipur Municipal Corporation.
The BJP holds 78 of the corporation’s 150 seats, compared with 57 for Congress and 15 Independents.
The mayoral election is scheduled for September 25, with voting planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The 15 Independent councillors could be important, while Congress seeks support beyond its councillor group.
- Who
- Sunil Kothari is contesting for the BJP, and Sunita Mahawar is contesting for Congress.
- What
- They are contesting the Jaipur Municipal Corporation mayoral election.
- When
- Voting is scheduled for September 25; nominations were accepted on September 18 and 19, with withdrawal closing on September 22.
- Where
- The contest is for the Jaipur Municipal Corporation, with Kothari filing his nomination at its headquarters.
- Why
- The election will determine Jaipur’s next mayor, and both parties are working to consolidate councillor support.
BJP Position
Congress Position
Mayoral candidate
BJP Position
The BJP has nominated Sunil Kothari, a former Jaipur City BJP president and Ward-112 councillor.
Congress Position
Congress has nominated Sunita Mahawar, a Ward-118 councillor and long-time party worker with municipal political experience.
Support prospects
BJP Position
The BJP enters the contest with 78 councillors in the 150-member corporation, giving it a majority.
Congress Position
Congress is seeking support beyond its 57 councillors; Rafeek Khan has claimed that some BJP councillors are in contact with Congress, though this has not been independently verified.
Role of Independents
BJP Position
The BJP may need to maintain its majority and consolidate support ahead of the vote.
Congress Position
Congress may look to the 15 Independent councillors, who could be politically significant in the mayoral election.
- Election date
- September 25
- Voting time
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., if the contest remains after withdrawals
- Corporation strength
- 150 councillors
- BJP seats
- 78
- Congress seats
- 57
- Independent seats
- 15
- Scrutiny and withdrawal
- Scrutiny is scheduled for September 21, and withdrawals close on September 22