Jaipur: BJP is going all out for Rajasthan’s civic polls, with its top functionaries and workers campaigning as elections to 309 urban local bodies enters final stretch.Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma held roadshows Saturday in Bhilwara and Udaipur, kicking off a five-day statewide push that will take him to more than 10 major cities. State BJP president Madan Rathore is also touring districts, while party teams have been deployed across smaller towns.
CM Bhajan Lal Sharma’s Road show in Udaipur
The schedule underlines BJP’s attempt to give the local body contest a larger political thrust. A senior BJP member said, “While ward candidates will be at the centre of the electoral battle, the party plans to use CM’s presence to highlight the state govt’s performance along with issues that directly affect urban voters.”According to the proposed programme, Sharma will hold roadshows in Bikaner, Ajmer and Jodhpur on Sept 6, followed by Bharatpur and Alwar on Sept 7. He will visit Pali and Kota on Sept 8 before concluding the five-day exercise in Jaipur on Sept 9.The party is expected to focus on everyday civic concerns — roads, sanitation, drinking water, drainage, traffic management, while also highlighting work undertaken by the Bhajan Lal govt during its tenure.“The Jaipur programme is likely to be significant, with 150 wards and a keen contest for control of the civic body. The CM’s presence in the capital will give party added political weight. The party has already undertaken extensive organisational preparations and deliberations over candidate selection in the city,” said a BJP functionary.BJP state general secretary Shravan Singh Bagri said the party is in a strong position across all 309 urban local bodies. He said the chief minister, Union functionaries, state office-bearers, Union and state ministers will campaign at different locations. .State BJP president Madan Rathore on Sept 5 campaigned in Ajmer and Nagaur which will be followed by Phalodi, Jaisalmer and Barmer on Sept 6. A senior party member said, “BJP is giving equal attention to smaller towns and major cities.”The need is evident from the numbers: in Suroth, 156 candidates are contesting from 20 wards — nearly eight per ward. Khetri has 188 candidates for 25 wards, while Rajgarh has 294 candidates across 40 wards. The member added, “Even Kotputli has 428 candidates for 60 wards. In comparison, Jaipur has 723 candidates for 150 wards, or 4.8 per ward, while Udaipur has only 220 candidates for 80 wards, averaging 2.75.”
