Bhilwara: BJP retained control of the Bhilwara Municipal Corporation for the fourth consecutive term, consolidating its hold in the textile city, which was once a Congress stronghold. Congress, already split into factions before voting in the urban local body elections, suffered a major defeat. The fallout from the Congress not allotting election symbols in 17 wards of the Bhilwara Municipal Corporation was evident in the results. Om Narayaniwal, a former head of the city’s municipal council and a Congress MLA candidate, also saw his wife, the wife of the Bhilwara Congress city president, and his brother defeated. Senior Congress leader Manju Pokharna, a six-time councillor, also lost. In the 70 wards of the Bhilwara Municipal Corporation, BJP won 45 seats, the Congress 10, and Independents 15, pushing the Congress to third place.BJP secured a clear majority in the Bhilwara Municipal Corporation and in the Mandalgarh and Jahazpur municipalities, while Congress secured a clear majority in the Shahpura and Gangapur municipalities. In the remaining six municipalities—Banera, Bigod, Bijolia, Gulabpura, Hamirgarh and Asind—no party won a majority, and independents will be required to form the board and elect municipal chairpersons. Heavy police deployment remained in place around the counting centre. Due to barricading, winning candidates were unable to reach the counting venue to take oath and receive certificates.
