Rajasthan municipal election results LIVE: BJP leads in Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota; Congress ahead in Jodhpur, Pali | Hindustan Times - Hindustan Times

**Rajasthan Municipal Election Results: BJP Leads in Jaipur, Udaipur and Kota; Congress Ahead in Jodhpur and Pali**

The counting of votes for Rajasthan’s urban local body elections, which began on Saturday, has produced a mixed picture for the two major national parties. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken an early lead in three of the state’s most populous municipal corporations—Jaipur, Udaipur and Kota—while the Indian National Congress (INC) is ahead in Jodhpur and Pali. Across all urban wards, the BJP currently tops the tally with **2,701** seats, closely trailed by the Congress with **2,244** seats, indicating a tightly contested race that could swing in either direction as counting progresses.

The municipal corporations of Jaipur, Udaipur and Kota collectively account for more than **800** of the contested wards, and the BJP’s strong performance there reflects its continued urban appeal in the state’s capital region and key industrial centers. Conversely, the Congress’s lead in Jodhpur—a historic and cultural hub—and Pali, an emerging commercial town, underscores its foothold in parts of Rajasthan where agrarian concerns and anti-incumbency sentiments remain potent. Election officials have reported that vote counting is proceeding smoothly, with electronic voting machines (EVMs) being verified at each stage to ensure transparency.

Political analysts note that the municipal outcomes could foreshadow the broader political climate ahead of the next state assembly election, scheduled for 2028. While the BJP’s urban gains may bolster its claim of development-driven governance, the Congress’s resilience in several districts suggests that voter preferences remain fluid. Both parties are expected to intensify their outreach in the remaining wards, with final results anticipated by the end of the week.