Jaipur: Independents emerged as a significant third force in Rajasthan’s urban local body elections Monday, winning enough seats in several civic bodies to either form boards on their own or play a decisive role in determining who controls them.In Bharatpur and Hanumangarh, independents crossed the majority mark on their own, while in Pali, Ajmer, Alwar, Jodhpur, Dausa, Didwana, Pokhran, Khatu Shyamji and Salumber, their numbers could influence board formation.In Bharatpur Municipal Corporation, independents won 36 of the 65 wards, crossing the majority mark of 33. BJP won 20 seats and Congress seven, making independents the largest bloc and putting them in a position to form the board without either major party.Hanumangarh Municipal Council threw up a similar result, with independents winning 32 of 60 wards — one more than the majority mark of 31. BJP won 15 seats, Congress 10 and CPM one. “With a clear majority of their own, independents here are in a position to decide the board without depending on either major party,” said political analyst Yash Jhinja.In Alwar Municipal Corporation, BJP emerged as the largest party with 28 of 65 seats, followed by Congress with 23. Independents won 14 seats and could prove crucial in deciding the board.In the newly formed Pali Municipal Corporation, Congress won 29 of 65 seats, BJP 21 and independents 15. With 33 needed for a majority, Congress requires the support of at least four councillors, putting independents in a pivotal position.In Dausa, Congress won 24 seats, BJP 17 and independents 14. With 29 required for a majority, Congress needs five more councillors. Didwana presents a similar equation, with Congress on 16, independents on 14 and BJP on nine. Congress needs five more seats to reach the majority mark of 21.Pokhran has also produced a tight contest, with Congress winning 12 of 25 wards and BJP 11. Two seats went to independents, with 13 required for a majority, making even one independent potentially decisive.In Khatu Shyamji, BJP and Congress won eight seats each in the 20-member municipality. Three independents and one councillor from another party hold the remaining seats.In Salumber, BJP won 12 seats against Congress’s 11, while an independent and a councillor from another party won one each, leaving BJP short of a majority.
