The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as the biggest winner in the Kota Municipal Corporation elections, securing 55 of the 100 wards. The Congress finished second with 40 wards, while Independent candidates won three wards.
However, the process of forming the new civic body has been delayed because of problems with some Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Elections for the posts of chairperson and vice chairperson could not move forward after voting machines reportedly stopped working properly at several locations.
Counting was put on hold in Ward 87, Ward 44 and Ward 11 of Kota, as well as at a booth in Suket, because of EVM-related issues. Officials have scheduled re-polling for September 16. The final election results are expected to be announced on September 17 after the re-polling process is completed.
The EVMs involved in the dispute have been sealed by election officials. The move is intended to protect the machines and maintain transparency while the election process continues.
The EVM problems also led to protests by Congress leaders. Congress candidate Laxmi Sharma and other party workers staged a protest, demanding a fair and transparent election process. The party had also raised allegations of unfair tactics during the polls.
Several candidates recorded notable victories in the election. BJP leader Vivek Rajvanshi won Ward 54 for the fourth consecutive time. He defeated Congress candidate Manish by a margin of 2,226 votes.
BJP candidate Gopal Ram Manda also continued his winning record by securing his fifth victory from Ward 31. He defeated Congress candidate Sanjay Yadav by 899 votes.
The election also produced some surprises. Youth Congress candidate Arpit Jain defeated BJP veteran Yogendra Khinchi in Ward 86 by 250 votes. Independent candidate Vandana Faujdar won Ward 71, defeating BJP’s Meenakshi Sen by 160 votes.
In nearby Bundi, the BJP won 29 wards, falling just two seats short of a majority. Congress secured 20 wards, while Independent candidates won 11. Three Independent candidates later joined the BJP, giving the party enough support to take control of the civic body.
Congress had hoped to form the municipal board but faced internal criticism over its selection of candidates. Some party leaders alleged that ticket distribution was unfair. Leaders such as Devraj Gochar contested the election as Independents after they were denied party tickets.
The results show a strong performance by the BJP in the Kota civic elections. While Congress managed to win several wards and Independents also made an impact, the BJP secured a clear advantage. The final outcome will be confirmed after the scheduled re-polling and completion of the remaining election procedures.