In a major embarrassment for Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, the ruling BJP on Thursday suffered a setback in Raje’s pocket-borough of Dholpur and Jhalawar where it was defeated in the civic polls, though the party emerged ahead in around 60 municipal bodies out of 129 in Rajasthan.
Congress, which was routed in the Lok Sabha elections last year, has made significant gains attaining or nearing majority in around 40 bodies and was neck and neck with the BJP in 17 bodies. In seven civic bodies, Independent candidates were holding sway.
While the BJP won 1,416 <g data-gr-id="40">wards</g> of the 3,300 whose results were declared so far, the Congress bagged 1,146 <g data-gr-id="41">wards</g>. The Congress won majority in two civic bodies in Jhalawar district represented by Raje in the Assembly and her son Dushyant Singh in the Lok Sabha, while the BJP won three.
In Dholpur, the Congress secured majority in all three civic bodies of Badi, Dholpur and Rajakhera. Raje belongs to the erstwhile royal family of Dholpur.
The BJP also lost <g data-gr-id="53">majority</g> in Baran district’s two civic bodies which <g data-gr-id="52">falls</g> in Parliamentary constituency of Dushyant Singh. Calling the results as a “vote of no confidence” against the BJP government in Rajasthan, the Congress state unit President Sachin Pilot said the vote difference between the BJP and the Congress had reduced to 1 per cent from 26 per cent in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014.
“Congress won in the home turf of Chief Minister who is facing corruption charges. Voters have understood and are looking at Congress with hope,” Pilot said.
Results for 3,300 wards of total 3,351 have been announced so far, a spokesman of State Election Commission (RSEC) said here. Independent candidates won 697 <g data-gr-id="38">wards</g> whereas NCP, BSP, CPI and CPI(M) got 19, 16, 5 and one seats respectively.