Congress wins Civic election in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Kota

The ruling Congress in Rajasthan notched up further victories in the state on Thursday, sweeping the civic body elections. The party even wrested mayoral posts from the BJP’s traditional bastions of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Kota. After the counting ended on Thursday for civic bodies and for the first time their heads as well, the Congress candidates won as either presidents or chairpersons in 25 other civic bodies. While the BJP managed 10, the BSP and an Independent managed one victory each. The Congress is set to form the boards in 25 bodies, the BJP in 16 and Independents in the remaining.
For the first time in the state, the electorate voted to choose the head of their respective civic body, and the Congress managed a clean sweep. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said the mandate of the people was clear since the Congress had won the Assembly elections last year, the Lok Sabha elections in May, and now the civic body elections.