Kota: BJP Saturday named Anasuya Goswami as its mayoral candidate for the Kota Municipal Corporation (KMC) at the last moment, setting up a contest against Congress candidate Sunita Suman, who filed her nomination at noon.The KMC mayor’s post is reserved for an OBC woman. BJP Kota district president Rakesh Jain, along with councillors Nandkumari Hada and Kirti Gautam, reached the corporation office around 2:40 pm to submit Goswami’s nomination papers and party symbol to Returning Officer Ravi Verma. Goswami and other BJP councillors were away on a devotional tour in the Mewar region.Earlier, Suman, accompanied by Congress Kota city president Rakhi Gautam and party workers, filed her nomination at noon.Although BJP holds 57 ward seats against Congress’s 39, the party held strategy meetings after Suman’s nomination. Suman, who won Ward 17 by 433 votes, belongs to the Mali community, a key bloc in the region.To prevent internal divisions, BJP assembled its newly elected councillors Friday evening, collected their mobile phones, and sent them to Mewar on a religious tour. After considering 10 eligible OBC women, the party finalised Goswami, who defeated Congress candidate Ayush Pareta.Congress leaders said their party remained united. Rakhi Gautam claimed BJP’s measures reflected insecurity, while Suman said the result would be a “surprise.”Returning Officer Ravi Verma said three nomination forms were received—one from Suman and two on behalf of Goswami.Scrutiny of nominations will be held on Sept 21 at 10:30 am. Withdrawals are allowed until 3:00 pm on Sept 22, after which symbols will be allotted. Voting by elected ward councillors is scheduled for Sept 25, followed by counting and declaration of results.
