JAIPUR: The long wait of selecting mayors to six corporations in three major cities — Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota — of the state will be over on Tuesday.
The councillors will vote to elect their respective mayors. Both Congress and BJP have already selected their candidates.
“The councillors will vote to choose the mayor between 10am and 2pm on Tuesday. The results will be declared after counting,” an Election Commission official said.
The ruling Congress had beaten BJP and won the majority in two civic bodies — Jodhpur North and Kota North — while taking the lead in Jaipur Heritage corporation. The BJP had crossed the majority mark in Jaipur Greater and Jodhpur South. But both parties are tied in Kota South with 36 seats each in a house of 80.
At present, Congress has a majority in three, while the BJP dominates in two of the six municipal bodies. While the Congress will attempt to maintain the lead, the saffron party would try to equal the score.
All eyes are glued on Kota South, which will decide which party rules the majority of corporations or if both will have to be satisfied with three each.
In Kota South, BJP has placed its bet on seasoned councillor Vivek Rajvanshi. He is a real estate developer and a three-time councillor. On the contrary, the Congress has fielded a fresh face, Rajiv Agarwal, from here. In Kota North, Congress has fielded Manju Mehra against BJP’s Santosh Berwa. Congress is in a comfortable position here to make the board after winning 48 seats.
The power equation of political parties in the Blue City is expected to remain in balance after the ruling Congress dominated in Jodhpur North while BJP emerged victorious in Jodhpur South.
Congress, which emerged a clear winner in North with 53 seats out of 80, has fielded Kunti Parihar for the mayor’s seat.
A Congress leader said, “Parihar comes from Mali community and is the daughter of senior MLA Maan Singh Deora, who once stepped down from his seat in 1998 for Ashok Gehlot to contest elections.”
BJP has fielded Sangeeta Solanki against Congress in Jodhpur North. The party has fielded Vanita Singh, who is considered a Vasundhara Raje loyalist, from Jodhpur South while Congress has given ticket to Pooja Pareek.
Jaipur Heritage will also witness a peaceful election as Congress is inching closer to win the mayor’s seat with the support of 55 councillors.
In a surprise move, Congress announced the name of Munesh Gurjar, who has the support of cabinet minister Pratap Singh.
After failing to find a candidate, BJP fielded independent candidate Kusum Yadav. She was earlier with the party, but was denied a ticket.