Ajmer: On the last day for filing nominations for the Ajmer Municipal Corporation (AMC) elections, Congress was criticised for releasing its candidate list late, after many aspirants had already filed nominations. Of 80 wards, Congress announced candidates for only 78 seats, while the BJP had already directed its nominees to file as official party candidates. Many independents also entered the fray.The nomination process saw large crowds with drums, flags and banners as candidates demonstrated support, while senior BJP and Congress leaders were largely absent from the venue. North Ajmer circle officer Shivam Joshi said security and other arrangements were made after repeated trial checks to identify gaps.BJP’s list drew attention for fielding relatives of senior leaders. In ward 12, the party gave a ticket to Ranjana, wife of BJP city president Ramesh Soni. In ward 59, Madhu, wife of former mayor Surendra Singh Shekhawat, was nominated. BJP denied tickets to several former corporators, including Seema Goswami, Prathibha Parashar, Hemlata Bansal and Neetu Mishara, as well as former deputy mayor Neeraj Jain and Rubi Jain. The party nominated Manju Devi, wife of a former Hathikeda sarpanch. BJP fielded Monika Jain, a former Congress corporator, against former AMC mayor Hema Gehlot, and reportedly dropped Ambika Heda, daughter of former Ajmer Development Authority chairperson Shiv Shanker Heda.Congress also replaced many former corporators, including Naresh Saytavana and Laxmi Bundel. Party sources alleged the selection process was controlled by functionaries who lost recent assembly elections, who then distributed tickets within families or to close associates. A former corporator warned that disappointed Congress workers may contest as independents, splitting votes. Reports also said some workers linked to Sachin Pilot were removed, raising fears of internal revolt.
