Jaipur: Ward 62 in Pratap Nagar is witnessing a fierce 13-way contest, with nine independents in the fray, making the outcome difficult to predict amid the ward’s mixed caste profile and open general-category status.Twenty nominations were filed for the ward, of which 13 candidates remain in the race. BJP, Congress, AAP and RLP have fielded general-category candidates. However, rival candidates and party workers allege that some independents, particularly from SC/ST and OBC communities, are being backed by political parties to tap into specific caste groups.AAP candidate Yogesh Goyal alleged that parties had fielded “unofficial” candidates to maintain a foothold among different communities. “While the main candidates they fielded are from the general caste, others have submitted nominations as independents. The winner would officially support the party which has unofficially appointed him or her,” he said.The large number of independents has fragmented the contest, with local workers saying no single caste bloc is likely to dominate. They said community-level mobilisation, personal networks and post-poll alignments could prove decisive.Ward 62 stretches along the western side of Mahal Road, from the ISKCON Temple stretch to the Dravyavati River in the south, and westwards up to Kumbha Marg Tiraha. Its large geographical spread and rapid urbanisation have heightened the stakes.Local BJP worker Meghraj Meena said the ward’s fast-paced development had made it politically attractive. RLP candidate Naresh Kumar also pointed to its expanding residential areas and size, describing it as a preferred ward for parties seeking representation.“This is a contest shaped by caste arithmetic. Independents may decide the balance,” Kumar said.The high number of candidates has thus turned the ward into a closely watched contest where vote-splitting and community-wise mobilisation could determine the winner.
