Jaipur: Ward 62, where the highest number of 13 candidates were in the fray for Jaipur Municipal Corporation election, witnessed polling of around 48%, which is lower as compared to 16 wards where the contest was limited to just two candidates.The contrast was sharp in Ward 53 under the Sanganer zone, which had a direct fight between two candidates and registered more than 60% voting. Fifteen other wards with only two contestants each also crossed at least 50% turnout. These included Wards 41, 42, 45, 49, 60, 83, 90, 91, 94, 122, 123, 129, 131, 142 and 150, most witnessing straight BJP-Congress contests.Rashtriya Loktantrik Party candidate Naresh Kumar said Ward 62’s low participation may be linked to its voter profile. He pointed out that many residents, particularly in the NRI Complex, live outside Jaipur or abroad and did not travel for the local election.“The ward has many voters in high-rises and residential complexes, some of whom may have stayed home or gone to work despite polling day. The lower turnout could benefit Congress and smaller parties such as the RLP and AAP, as their committed voters were more likely to have turned up,” Kumar claimed.Of the 16 wards with two-candidate contests, six fall under the Adarsh Nagar zone and the Adarsh Nagar assembly constituency. Political workers said these areas recorded comparatively higher polling because of stronger Congress mobilisation.Congress leader Manoj Meena of Ward 150 said Adarsh Nagar, Kishanpole and Amer are the only three assembly segments within JMC jurisdiction represented by Congress councillors. “These areas were neglected under the BJP rule, prompting Congress supporters to vote actively to retain the Congress representations in their wards,” Meena stated.Figures suggested simpler bipolar contests produced clearer mobilisation, while Ward 62’s crowded ballot failed to energise many voters.
