Cong, BJP candidates set to contest bypolls for JMC-G

Jaipur: Picture of byelection for the mayor’s post in Jaipur Municipal Corporation - Greater became clear on Monday after no contestant withdrew nomination. Now, Hema Singhania from Congress and Rashmi Saini from BJP are in the fray to contest election, scheduled to be held on November 10.
As both the parties fear cross-voting, Congress and BJP are keeping their councillors close and have put them up in separate hotels in the city.
A BJP councillor said, “After senior BJP leaders and MLAs from the city unanimously chose the candidate for the mayor’s post, their responsibility has increased to stop cross- voting. The possibilities of BJP winning the post are certain, but cross-voting can bring embarrassment to the leaders.”
Some of the councillors supporting acting mayor Sheel Dhabai are upset with the BJP for not making her the mayoral candidate for JMC Greater, which is likely to cost the BJP.
On Monday, at a time when councillors are camping at a hotel, Dhabhai reached the corporation headquarters where she met many councillors and officials. Sources said during her visit, an independent councillor Swati Parnami also reached to meet her.
A source said, “It’s evident that Dhabhai, who was the first woman mayor of the city is unhappy over the new selection. The senior leaders are working to safeguard all the councillors.
On Monday, the count of BJP councillors increased at the hotel where they are staying and over 85 councillors joined by evening. More than 50 councillors have reached in support of Congress’s mayoral candidate Hema Singhania.
On Monday senior leaders of Congress went to guide the councillors on the election. “Although the Congress does not have an absolute majority, but the councillors of all different parties want to develop their respective areas and for that the present Congress government will have to be supported so that the pace of development remains. Congress will get the full benefit of the BJP’s infighting,” said a senior Congress leader.