Ajmer: Congress and BJP Wednesday fielded their candidates for the post of mayor of Ajmer Municipal Corporation, setting up a direct contest between Congress’s Kiran Gadwal and BJP’s Anamika Sharma, with both sides claiming they have the numbers to win the crucial Sept 21 vote.Soon after filing the nomination, Congress senior member Dharmendra Rathore said the party had moved its 37 and five independents to Bengaluru, citing concerns over alleged harassment and pressure by BJP govt.“We have 42 corporators with us in Bengaluru. We have brought them here to protect them because BJP is harassing and pressuring our councillors. They will remain here till Sept 20 and will be brought back for voting in Ajmer on Sep 21,” Rathore said.Explaining the decision, Rathore alleged that Congress corporators were being targeted through “false cases, ED raids and bulldozer action”.The 80 elected corporators will vote to elect the mayor on Sept 21, with the result expected the same day. Congress has 37 corporators, BJP 32 and 11 independents, making the independents crucial to the outcome.The mayor’s post is reserved for a general woman this time. Gadwal, a homemaker, was elected from Ward 57, defeating the BJP candidate by 284 votes. According to her nomination papers, she is a graduate and has declared assets worth Rs 11.55 crore. Her husband is a businessman.BJP’s Sharma, a small-scale businesswoman, is a Class 10 pass and has declared assets worth Rs 37.61 lakh. Her husband is president of Ajmer District Cricket Association, while her father-in-law, Sitaram Sharma, is a BJP leader in Ajmer. Sources said the family is considered close to Ajmer MLA Vasudev Devnani.The 11 independents are expected to hold the key as both parties seek to consolidate their camps ahead of the Sept 21 mayoral election.
Ajmer mayor poll: Cong says it moved 42 corporators to Bengaluru amid ‘pressure’ claims | Jaipur News
