BJP loses face in Vasundhara Raje's bastion of Jhalawar, Dholpur

Jaipur, Aug 20: Ruling BJP on Thursday suffered a setback in Chief Minister Vasundhara 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 BJP in 17 bodies.

In seven civic bodies, Independents were holding sway. While BJP won 1,416 wards of the 3,300 whose results were declared so far, Congress bagged 1,146 wards.

Congress won majority in two civic bodies in Jhalawar district represented by Chief Minister Raje in Assembly and her son Dushyant Singh in Lok Sabha, while BJP won three.

In Dholpur, Congress secured majority in all three civic bodies of Badi, Dholpur and Rajakhera. Raje belongs to the erstwhile royal family of Dholpur.

BJP also lost majority in Baran district's two civic bodies which falls in Parliamentary constituency of Dushyant Singh.

Calling the results as a "vote of no confidence" against BJP Government in Rajasthan, Congress state unit president Sachin Pilot said the vote difference between BJP and Congress has 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 at a press conference.

Results for 3,300 wards of total 3,351 have been announced so far, a spokesman of State Election Commission (RSEC) said.

Independent candidates won 697 wards whereas NCP, BSP, CPI and CPI(M) got 19, 16, 5 and one seats respectively.

PTI