BJP wins majority in 67 civic polls in Rajasthan

Jaipur, Aug 20: The ruling BJP secured a clear-cut majority in 67 of the 129 civic bodies in Rajasthan where elections were held earlier in the week while the opposition Congress won a majority of wards only in 33 bodies.

The elections in these local bodies were held on August 17.

In Ajmer municipal corporation, BJP candidates won 31 of the 60 wards while Congress nominees won 22.

In Jaipur district, the BJP swept the polls as the party is set to form the boards in nine of the 10 Nagar Palikas (municipalities). In one, Kotputli, Independents won in maximum wards.

However, the BJP suffered a defeat in Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's Jhalrapatan constituency where the Congress won in 15 of the total 25 wards. The BJP won the remaining 10 wards.

As per the state election commission, BJP candidates won 1,442 of the 3,351 wards where polling was held. Congress candidates were declared elected in 1,164 wards while Independents won in 704 wards.

"We have been able to improve our vote share and have given a crushing defeat to the ruling party in the chief minister's constituency," state Congress president Sachin Pilot said at a press conference.

Raje said the people voted for one-and-half years of good governance given by the BJP in the state.

"The win also proves that the country and the state under the leadership of Narendra Modi are touching new dimensions of development," Raje said.