Alwar: A fierce contest is brewing between BJP and Congress as both parties aim to form the governing board in Alwar Municipal Corporation ahead of the crucial vote count scheduled for Sept 14. With neither party expected to secure a clear majority in the 65-member corporation that went to polls Wednesday, both sides have begun consolidating their councillor candidates and reaching out to potential Independent winners.On the BJP side, councillor candidates assembled at Union minister Bhupendra Yadav’s residence, where election in charge and former MP Ramcharan Bohra and Forest minister Sanjay Sharma held a strategy meeting. Afterwards, BJP candidates were moved by buses to undisclosed locations as part of a corralling exercise. Their mobile phones were collected, numbered, and deposited under the supervision of party office-bearers, with responsibilities assigned to BJP members to manage arrangements. Bohra asserted that BJP would form the board and said all candidates would remain united and arrive together on Sept 21 when the mayor would be elected.Congress, meanwhile, gathered its councillor candidates at Shanti Kunj Hotel in Alwar, where Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully held meetings with candidates individually. Congress also planned to move candidates to another undisclosed location for barricading later in the evening. Jully claimed Congress would win more than 33 wards and said Independents were likely to support the party, arguing they would be reluctant to align with BJP.With memories of the 2019 civic outcome—when BJP won 27 seats, Congress 19, and Independents held the balance, yet Congress ultimately formed the board through political manoeuvring—both parties are again working to secure the post-result numbers, particularly among Independents.
