Jaipur: BJP’s central ministers and senior functionaries have taken charge of campaigns in their home turfs, where they are leading the party’s electioneering, managing ticket-related dissent and seeking to ensure victories for party candidates in the urban body polls.For Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, the outcome carries significance beyond the civic bodies, with their political standing and influence in their respective strongholds also under scrutiny.
BL Santosh, Madan Rathore etc during a meeting at BJP HQ in Jaipur, Rajasthan on 04 September 2026
Birla has been camping in Kota for the last 15 days, attending three to four programmes a day and holding closed-door meetings with party workers. He was also closely involved in ticket distribution, making the outcome particularly significant for him.“The victory in Kota is crucial for Birla. He has been Lok Sabha Speaker for a second term and is considered close to the BJP’s central leadership. With the party having lost both Kota North and Kota South earlier, the civic polls will be an important test of his political influence,” a BJP functionary said.The integration of the two municipal corporations following delimitation has further raised the stakes. “The integration has changed the political equation and makes the outcome a bigger test for Birla,” the functionary added.In Jodhpur, Shekhawat has been on the ground for the last five days, meeting candidates and workers and campaigning across the city. He has also been involved in efforts to persuade rebel candidates to withdraw their nominations.The contest in Jodhpur is significant as it is also the home turf of Shekhawat’s archrival and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot. “Jodhpur is a prestige battle for both Shekhawat and Gehlot. The outcome will be closely watched for what it indicates about the political standing of both figures in their home turf,” a party functionary said.In Bikaner, Meghwal has been holding meetings with voters and campaigning for BJP candidates, focusing on direct interaction. “For a third-term Union minister, the civic polls are also a test of his grassroots connect and political influence,” a BJP MLA from the district said.In Bharatpur, the home district of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, state incharge Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, organisation secretary Ajaey Singh and former state president Ashok Parnami have taken charge of the campaign, coordinating party workers and overseeing the election effort. “Victory is the only option in CM Sharma’s home turf for his national prestige,” a party functionary said.The BJP has also stepped up its campaign in the tribal belt, with national ST Morcha head and Udaipur MP Manna Lal Rawat coordinating the campaign in Dungarpur and Baran while overseeing teams in Jaipur. The party is seeking to strengthen its position in the region amid competition from Congress and the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP).
