Rajasthan civic polls: Independents hold key as BJP, Congress begin ‘Barabandi’

Jaipur: With voting for Rajasthan’s civic body elections over, political activity has shifted from the ballot box to a scramble for numbers, with independent councillors expected to play a decisive role in several municipal bards.

As the September 14 counting day approaches, both the BJP and the Congress have begun the traditional exercise of ‘barabandi’, keeping their candidates together at hotels, resorts and other locations to prevent poaching and cross-voting.

In Jaipur, the BJP has summoned all its councillor candidates to the party’s city office at noon on Saturday and asked them to carry personal belongings for a stay until September 22. Buses have been arranged to move them to a designated location.

BJP Jaipur District President Amit Goyal said candidates would stay together at one location, where the party would discuss its “policies and strategy”. Similar arrangements are reportedly being made in districts including Udaipur.

The exercise has also begun in Ajmer, Udaipur, Chittorgarh and Kotputli. In Ajmer, 41 BJP candidates from the North constituency were gathered at Vijayalakshmi Park and reportedly taken to Pushkar for a three-day training programme. Another 37 candidates from the South constituency gathered under Anita Bhadel.

In Udaipur, the BJP assembled all 80 candidates at a hotel on 100-Feet Road for training and ward-wise feedback. BJP City District President Gajpal Singh Rathore claimed the party would win “more than 60 wards” and form the board with a “historic majority”.

In Chittorgarh’s Kapasan, BJP candidates were assembled at the party office before being moved to a secluded location. MLA Arjun Lal Jingar expressed confidence in the party’s victory.

The Congress has also joined the exercise. Around 70 candidates from Viratnagar and Pawta-Pragpura municipalities have been lodged at a resort in Neemrana and are likely to remain there until the September 21 chairperson election.

In Dungarpur’s Sagwara, Congress candidates have reportedly been moved to Mount Abu, while BJP candidates have been shifted to Udaipur. With results due on September 14, the focus is now firmly on numbers and board formation.