Jaipur: Jaipur Municipal Corporation’s mayoral election Friday witnessed a BJP-Congress face-off after Congress protested outside JMC headquarters, alleging that BJP leaders and workers were allowed into the polling area before voting began.
Congress MLAs, Rafiq Khan and Amin Kagzi with other congress leaders Sunil Sharma and Archana Sharma plead MP Manju Sharma to intervene the clash and let BJP leader Ravi Nayyar to leave the JMC premises and let Congress MLAs to enter the JMC
Voting started at 10 am. Around 11.30 am, Congress MLAs and workers staged a protest, alleging that BJP Jaipur city president Amit Goyal and other party workers had entered the polling area before the process began.Congress workers also alleged that Adarsh Nagar MLA Rafeek Khan was stopped at JMC main gate while BJP leaders were allowed inside. Khan later joined the protest along with Kishanpole MLA Amin Kagzi and Jaipur city Congress president Sunil Sharma.
BJP’s Sunil Kothari shows victory sign after elected Mayor of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC), comfortably surpassing the majority mark of 76 in a 150-member house
Congress leaders alleged that party members were being stopped while people linked to BJP were allowed inside. Sharma alleged that police and the civic administration were favouring BJP. He said Congress MLAs, as ex-officio members of the corporation, had the right to enter under the Municipal Corporation Act.
BJP-Congress face-off at JMC during mayoral poll
BJP-Congress face-off at JMC during mayoral poll
BJP-Congress face-off at JMC during mayoral poll
Sharma also alleged that Goyal and Mohan Lal Gupta were sitting with the returning officer and having coffee with him. He questioned the presence of BJP leaders alongside the officer, saying it could influence the election process.
Congress’s Sunita Mawar after the election result
BJP-Congress face-off at JMC during mayoral poll
BJP-Congress face-off at JMC during mayoral poll
Jaipur MP Manju Sharma rejected the allegations, calling them a sign of Congress frustration. She claimed BJP members were sitting outside the polling area. Hawa Mahal MLA Balmukundacharya said Congress was creating a ruckus over its performance in the civic polls and would have to accept the people’s mandate.
Sunil Kothari addresses media after elected as Mayor in JMC HQ
Kagzi alleged that the election process had been “hijacked” and questioned the presence of BJP leaders and others who had no voting role. Civil Lines MLA Gopal Sharma dismissed the allegations as political rhetoric.The confrontation intensified when Congress workers surrounded Manju Sharma and questioned her. Later, when Gopal Sharma tried to enter the premises, Sunil Sharma stopped him, leading to a heated exchange involving Kagzi and other Congress workers.
Councillors lined up to cast their votes at JMC HQ
The mayoral election was held amid the confrontation, with BJP’s Sunil Kothari and Congress’s Sunita Mawar contesting the poll.
Newly elected Mayor Sunil Kothari leaves for Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple for the Dharshan from JMC HQ in his official car
