Crossing party lines, rebels and rows: Rajasthan civic polls take a dramatic turn

Jaipur, Sep 7 (IANS) Rajasthan’s urban local body elections are producing scenes that go far beyond the usual Bharatiya Janata Party-versus-Congress contest. In the final days before voting, party lines appear blurred in some wards, political friendships are taking centre stage in others, while rebellion, protests and unusual campaign tactics are adding drama to the electoral battle.

From Nathdwara to Sikar, Kota to Jodhpur and Dungarpur to Jaipur, the campaign trail has witnessed everything from a BJP candidate openly supporting a Congress rival to a Congress candidate blessing a JP contestant and even dogs being released outside the office of a BJP rebel.

One of the most striking developments has emerged from Nathdwara in Rajsamand district, where BJP candidate Dinesh Prajapat announced his support for Congress nominee Ajay Gurjar in Ward 23, just days before polling. Prajapat, however, made it clear that his political identity remains with the BJP and that he would continue to remain associated with the party.

The episode has added an unexpected twist to what would ordinarily be a straightforward BJP-Congress contest. It also highlights the importance of personal equations and local-level dynamics in municipal elections, where candidates often face voters with whom they have long-standing social and personal relationships.

An equally unusual scene unfolded in Sikar’s Ward 15, where former Municipal Council chairman and Congress candidate Jeevan Khan was seen blessing BJP candidate Simran during campaigning. Khan placed his hand on Simran’s head in a gesture of goodwill, creating a striking image of political rivals sharing a moment of warmth during an otherwise fiercely contested election.

The incident underlines how local elections can sometimes produce relationships that do not fit neatly into conventional party politics.

Kota provided another example of political civility. In Ward 54, BJP candidate Vivek Rajvanshi and Congress candidate Manish Sharma reportedly shook hands when they came face-to-face during campaigning.

Elsewhere in Kota, candidates adopted more unconventional campaign styles. BJP candidate Pratibha Suman was seen roasting peanuts on a roadside pushcart in Ward 64, while BJP candidate Soma Ahluwalia reportedly bowed before elderly residents during her campaign in Ward 56. Not every story from the campaign trail has been about political drama.

Residents of Royal Suncity Colony in Kota’s Ward 33 have announced a boycott of voting, alleging inadequate development work in their area. The protest puts local civic issues at the heart of the election debate and signals that candidates must answer not only for party politics but also for visible work or the lack of it on the ground.

Kota also witnessed an unusual voter-list error in Ward 29. In Part 12, the details of a voter named Jagdish, including his name, father’s name and house number, were reportedly correct, but the photograph displayed against the entry was that of Lord Hanuman.

The unusual error has raised questions about the accuracy of electoral rolls and the verification process. The election battle took a particularly unusual turn in Dungarpur’s Ward 31.

On Friday, a Municipal Council shelter-home vehicle reportedly released around 15 dogs outside the office of Sunil Jain, a BJP rebel contesting as an independent. Jain alleged that the incident was an abuse of official machinery intended to weaken his campaign.

The allegation has added another layer to the growing tensions between official party candidates and rebels contesting independently.

Political tensions also surfaced in Jaipur’s Ward 149, where residents reportedly surrounded the vehicle of Amer MLA Prashant Sahdev Sharma during his campaign visit in support of Congress candidate Anjali Brahmbhatt. The protesters allegedly waved black flags as the MLA arrived in the Handipura area, turning the campaign visit into a moment of confrontation.

Amid the local-level turbulence, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma continued the BJP’s campaign pitch. Addressing a gathering in Bikaner, he said people were moving from a “double-engine government” towards a “triple-engine government”, referring to coordination between governments at different levels. He in fact has organised roadshows in Bikaner, Udaipur and Ajmer.

However, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, verbally attacking the BJP government in the state, said, “It is the first time a Chief Minister feels compelled to conduct a roadshow for local self-government elections, including municipal corporations, municipal councils, and municipalities. This isn’t a positive sign; it is their biggest drawback. They have effectively proved that the government has been non-functional for the past two and a half years, leading to widespread public anger.”

The Rajasthan civic elections are increasingly looking less like a simple BJP-versus-Congress contest and more like a collection of local political dramas.

Candidates are crossing traditional lines, rivals are exchanging gestures of goodwill, rebels are challenging party establishments, residents are threatening boycotts, and campaign events are producing unexpected confrontations. Ultimately, however, the decisive actor remains the voter. Behind the headlines, the real question is whether these unusual campaign moments translate into votes on polling day or remain memorable episodes from one of Rajasthan’s most colourful municipal election campaigns.

–IANS

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