Post-poll loss, appointment of new mayor vital for BJP

JAIPUR: After Congress made strong inroads into BJP stronghold in Jaipur, the appointment of new mayor would remain crucial for the saffron party.

Of the nine assembly seats, Congress managed to win five, while four seats were retained by the ruling party. Many party workers believe that BJP should appoint a new mayor who can prove to be a warhorse to take on Congress.

A BJP councillor said, “Out of 91 wards, 47 fall under five constituencies which Congress won. To win the next local bodies election, new mayor in one year should carry out equal development work in all the wards. Party should carefully choose the new mayor who could implement the work on ground quickly,” he said.

In the last five years, Jaipur would get its third mayor before December 25. Ashok Lahoty, present mayor of Jaipur, was given ticket from BJP to contest assembly elections from Sanganer constituency.

On December 11, when the results were announced, Lahoty was declared winner beating his opponents Pushpendra Bhardhwaj and Ghashyam Tiwari.

As per the Rajasthan Municipality Act, 2009, if a person while being a member of municipality is selected for the post of MLA, within 14 days he shall cease to be such member provided he already resigns from his post.

As BJP party continues to delay in making announcement of new candidat, opposition has started taking a dig on the issue. Congress ex-councillor Giriraj Khandelwal said, “BJP is now struggling to find a councillor who has potential to become a mayor. We have won five seats in Jaipur and confident to give good results in municipal elections,” he said. In 2013, after the direct election of mayor through voting was scrapped, Nirmal Nahata was appointed as mayor. However, after his resignation Lahoty joined office in 2016. Speculations are rife that Nahata could be appointed as mayor once again.

Becoming a councillor of JMC or mayor holds significance in the political career of a candidate. Former MLAs Mohan Lal Gupta and Ashok Parnami have also previously been mayor of Jaipur.

Though Mohan Lal Gupta and Sheel Dhabai completed their term of mayor and then contested the election of MLA, Ashok Lahoty and Ashok Parnami were given tickets during their tenure as a mayor. Mohan Lal was given ticket in 2003 and since then he was selected as MLA for three consecutive terms until this year when he lost to Amin Kagzi from Kishanpole.