Jaipur: Congress has decided to field its mayoral candidate in Jaipur despite BJP securing a majority in the 150-member municipal corporation, with Adarsh Nagar MLA and party chief whip Rafeek Khan claiming that several BJP councillors are in touch with the party. The mayoral election is scheduled to be held on Sept 25.“Many BJP councillors are in touch with us and have assured us of their support. Interestingly, some of them were Congress workers at some point. Out of 15, seven to eight independents were Congress rebels who are eager to join the party. This is why the Congress has decided to field its candidate for the mayor’s post,” Khan said.The decision came after Congress won all four wards in the repolling held in Jaipur, taking its tally to 57, while BJP has 78 councillors. Independents won the remaining 15 wards, taking the final tally in the 150-member corporation to 78 BJP, 57 Congress and 15 independents.Khan pointed to the vote count, saying Congress had polled more votes than BJP despite winning fewer wards. Across the 150 wards, Congress polled 5,65,848 votes against BJP’s 5,52,713, a difference of 13,135 votes in Congress’s favour.“The voting percentage of Congress in Jaipur is higher than that of the BJP. The number of seats does not tell the entire story,” Khan said.Congress’s decision to contest the mayoral election comes amid efforts to keep its councillors together and remain politically active in Jaipur despite BJP’s majority. The party has also sought to highlight its higher vote share and the presence of 15 independents as factors in the post-poll arithmetic.“The party wants to highlight its higher vote share and keep the BJP on its toes ahead of the mayoral election. The BJP has only a thin majority, with a two-seat cushion over the majority mark,” a Congress source said.BJP needs 76 councillors for a majority in the 150-member House and currently has 78.
