Jaipur: Pilani, Rajasthan’s only city with two municipal councils, votes Friday in a civic election shaped by an unusual administrative history: one municipality for its famed education hub, another for the rest of town.Vidya Vihar Nagar Palika, covering BITS Pilani and adjoining educational institutions and residential areas, has 25 wards, 8,815 voters and 25 polling booths. Pilani Nagar Palika has 35 wards, 24,715 voters and 36 polling booths.The split dates to the early 1960s, when BITS Pilani, schools and other institutions were being developed under the Birla Education Trust. Vidya Vihar Nagar Palika was carved out of Pilani Nagar Palika to administer the education enclave.Dr RP Pareek, former chairperson of Vidya Vihar Nagar Palika from 2016 to 2021, said, “This municipal body initially managed BITS Pilani campus, Birla Balika Vidyapeeth, Birla Public School, among other educational institutes, and the residents of these areas. Gradually, independent houses started coming up in the wards here, and the area grew, which led to elections.”Until 1994, former office-bearers said, the head of Birla Education Trust functioned as the de facto chairperson. Formal elections began in 1996.Pareek said, “In 1996, the two municipalities were even merged for a few days, but Birla family requested the then chief minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat to keep them separate, to which he agreed, but elections were made mandatory.”He said a proposal to merge the two bodies was shared last year with UDH minister Jhabbar Singh Kharra, citing similar civic problems and jurisdictional conflict.District collector Arun Garg said both bodies are independent and notified separately. “Recommendations for merger might have been submitted to UDH minister but officially no proposal has been received yet.”Residents say the split has not resolved basic issues. Ram Babu Singh, teacher at Birla Balika Vidyapeeth, said stray dogs have increased on the BITS campus and councillors seeking campus votes “must address the issues also.”
Pilani’s twin civic bodies head to polls again, a rare split in Rajasthan | Jaipur News
