BJP takes control of 87 civic bodies in Rajasthan, Congress 37

JAIPUR: BJP today took control of 87 municipal bodies, helped by Independents in 21 of them, while Congress got 37 out of a total of 129 in Rajasthan civic polls.

BJP faced a rebellion in Ajmer Municipal Corporation when one of its elected ward members Surendra Shekhawat filed nomination for the Mayor's post against the party's official candidate Dharmendra Gehlot.

After a tie with 30 votes each, Gehlot was declared the winner in a lottery, spokesman of the Rajasthan State Election Commission said.

Shekhawat was expelled by BJP in the evening "for gross indiscipline".

Congress won mjaority in 35 and got control of two others with support from Independents.

Independents won the chairman's post in four civic bodies of Rawatsar (Hanumangarh), Kuchera (Nagaur), Uniara (Tonk), and Bhinder (Udaipur). In the elction result announced yesterday, Independents were in majority in 17 civic bodies.

Naryan Jhanwar, backed by NCP, was elected to head Nokha civic body. In Nokha, the NCP had won 19 ward members out of 35 seats.

BJP had won majority in 66 civic bodies including the Ajmer Municipal Corporation, and was supported by Independents in the rest.

The party lost in Dholpur, Jhalawar and Baran civic bodies, represented by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and her MP son Dushyant Singh.

Congress wrested control in municipal boards in Badi, Dholpur and Rajakhera, all in Dholpur district, apart from Anta and Baran civic bodies in Baran district.

In Jhalawar, BJP got Aklera, Bhawani Mandi, and Pirawa, while Congress bagged Jhalarapatan and Jhalawar civic bodies.

In the final tally for August 17 election, out of 3,351 wards in the civic bodies, BJP won 1,443 wards, Congress 1,164, Independents 703, NCP 19, BSP 16, CPI 5 and CPM one ward.

Election for posts of deputy chairman would be held tomorrow.