JAIPUR: The Congress has dealt a major setback to the BJP in Jhalawar, a stronghold of former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje, winning 29 of the 45 wards in the Jhalawar Municipal Council.The BJP won 13 wards, according to results available so far.Raje has represented the Jhalrapatan Assembly constituency, which falls in Jhalawar district, continuously since 2003.The Jhalawar result comes as counting is underway across Rajasthan’s 309 urban local bodies, covering 10,245 wards. The elections were held in two phases on September 9 and 11.As of the latest statewide figures, the BJP was ahead in 1,248 wards, while the Congress was leading in 1,065. Independents were ahead in 610 wards, while the RLP led in 30 wards.The civic polls are being seen as an important test for the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress ahead of the 2028 Rajasthan Assembly elections.In Jaipur, the BJP was leading in the early rounds of counting for the 150-member Jaipur Municipal Corporation. By 10.30am, results for 28 wards had been declared, with the BJP winning 20, Congress seven and an Independent candidate one.Results across the urban local bodies will determine control of municipal corporations, councils and municipalities.Mayors and chairpersons are scheduled to be elected on September 21, followed by elections for deputy mayors, deputy chairpersons and municipal vice-presidents on September 22.
