Setback for Congress as BJP leads in Rajasthan panchayat & zila parishad polls

JAIPUR: The opposition BJP has taken a lead over ruling Congress within the number of seats when counting for the four-phase panchayat samiti and zila parishad polls was persisted Tuesday. In stray violence following announcements, an individual was killed in Sikar district.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, 9 December, won 1,989 of the 4,371 Panchayat Samiti constituencies in Rajasthan, while the Congress is trailing with 1,852 constituencies.

The Independents gained 439 seats, the Bahujan Samaj Party got 5 seats while CPI(M) captured 26 seats in the elections while RLP got 60 seats, according to the state election commission website.

The BJP managed to win Zila Parishad elections, where they clinched 353 seats while Congress was limited to 252.

As per the Rajasthan State Election Commission website, CPI-M garnered two seats, the Independents 18 and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party had 10 seats.

It is a setback for Congress which claims to possess a robust base in rural areas. As many as 422 independent candidates and 56 Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) candidates too won in polls to panchayat samitis. CPM also won 16 seats. Independents are now expected to play an important role in forming panchayat samitis and zila parishads.

With his party racing before the Congress, BJP president J P Nadda asserted that this victory symbolises the trust the poor, farmers and labourers have in PM Modi’s leadership.

After BJP’s massive victory in Rajasthan polls, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the BJP has decisively defeated the Congress in the state.Addressing the media, Javadekar stated that the party’s win in the Rajasthan local bodies polls shows the party’s stand on the farm laws.Farmers have overwhelmingly supported the BJP in Rajasthan, Javadekar added.

“This (results) shows that the people of Rajasthan are with the BJP. And not only Rajasthan, the results in Bihar, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, all also show that the entire nation is happy with the BJP and its reforms. Voters have rejected the opposition’s negative politics,” said Javadekar.

In an isolated incident, an individual was killed and a few dozen people injured after two groups clashed during a victory procession at Bathod village under Fathepur tehsil in Sikar district. The deceased has been identified as Khanyalal alias Kanaram 35. Police reached the spot and brought things in check . a number of the seriously injured are being treated at an area hospital.

Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje congratulated party workers for the victory. “Hearty congratulations to all or any the hardworking candidates of the Bharatiya Janata Party who won zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections. Heartfelt because of the people of the state who have reposed faith within the BJP by denying the false claims of the Congress government,” she said.

“The counting of votes to elect members to panchayat samitis and zila parishads remains underway,” a state committee (SEC) spokesperson said.
The polling to elect a complete of 636 zila parishad members and 4,371 panchayat samiti members was held in four phases in 21 districts of Ajmer, Banswara, Barmer, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Churu, Dungarpur, Hanumangarh, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jhalawar, Jhunjhunu, Nagaur, Pali, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, Sikar, Tonk and Udaipur.

The results will decide the fate of 1,778 candidates in zila parishad and 12,663 in panchayat samiti elections.

Elaborate security arrangements are made for the counting process. The polling was persisted November 23 and 27, and December 1 and 5.