BJP’s Rajvanshi elected unopposed as Kota Dy Mayor

Jaipur: The BJP’s Vivek Rajvanshi was elected unopposed as Deputy Mayor of the Kota Municipal Corporation on Saturday, while Congress candidate Vinita Poonia was elected Chairperson of the Khatushyamji Municipality in Sikar district.

In Kota, the BJP candidate was elected without a contest after the Congress did not field a candidate for the Deputy Mayor’s post.

Rajvanshi said after his election that he would work towards improving civic services and making Kota a cleaner and greener city. Rajvanshi, who has around 27 years of experience, said he would work in line with the vision for Kota articulated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

In Khatushyamji, Congress’ Vinita Poonia defeated BJP candidate Prem Devi by 10 votes to 9 to become the Municipality Chairperson.

The 19 votes cast on September 21 were counted on Saturday after the ballot box was brought out of the strongroom in compliance with the Rajasthan High Court’s directions.

The Khatushyamji Municipality has a 20-member board comprising eight BJP councillors, eight Congress councillors, three independents and one RLP councillor.

BJP councillor Vijay Singh Panwar was elected Deputy Mayor of Jodhpur Municipal Corporation defeating Congress candidate and former Deputy Mayor Abdul Karim Johnny by four votes.

According to the official result, Panwar secured 52 votes, while Abdul Karim received 48. The election result came a day after BJP’s Prasannchand Mehta was elected Mayor of Jodhpur, giving the party control of both top posts in the corporation.

The BJP had won 45 seats in the municipal elections and later secured the support of seven independent councillors, taking its strength to 52. Congress has 44 councillors, while 10 independents and one Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) councillor were also elected.

The majority mark in the 101-member House is 51. With the support of independents, the BJP crossed the majority threshold. Congress had again fielded Abdul Karim Johnny, who had served as Deputy Mayor during the previous Congress-led board.

BJP candidate Saroj Kanwar was elected Deputy Mayor of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation, becoming the first woman to hold the post. She defeated Congress candidate Salman Mansoori.

Out of 150 councillors, 149 cast their votes, with Congress councillor Vandita Sharma unable to vote due to a leg injury. Kanwar secured 89 votes, while Mansoori received 58. One vote was cast for NOTA, and another was declared invalid.

Kanwar entered electoral politics by contesting the councillor election for the first time.

Following her victory, she rose directly to the post of Deputy Mayor. She is the wife of Ranjeet Singh Sodala, a former BJP state secretary and state president of the Ravna Rajput community. The BJP had fielded her as its candidate for the

councillor election.