NEW DELHI: Rajasthan’s urban electorate is voting in elections that could turn out to be much more than a contest for councillor posts. Across 309 urban local bodies in 41 districts, voters are electing 10,245 councillors in a two-phase exercise (September 9 and 11), with counting scheduled for September 14. The exercise covers 10 municipal corporations, 51 municipal councils and 248 municipalities.
The principal fight is between the ruling BJP and the Congress, but the larger contest is over the performance and political standing of chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. These are the first major elections since the BJP government came to power in December 2023 and subsequent Lok Sabha elections wherein the party did not do well. Therefore, the councillor elections are the closest thing to a mid-term referendum on Sharma so far.
There is, however, a caveat. Rajasthan’s urban elections have never been a simple referendum on the state government. Local candidates, caste equations, rebels and Independents matter enormously. The evidence suggests the ruling party often has an advantage, but certainly not an automatic one.
What makes the current election particularly interesting is Sharma’s decision to lead the campaign himself. He has travelled extensively, holding roadshows in major cities. That is both an opportunity and a risk. A strong BJP performance will allow Sharma to claim personal credit for having taken the party’s campaign to the streets. A weak showing, particularly in the larger corporations, could conversely raise questions about the impact of his campaign.
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