Jaipur: The reservation lottery for Jaipur Municipal Corporation’s 150 wards has significantly altered the city’s political landscape, intensifying competition for party tickets among candidates. The exercise has reshaped prospects of various former councillors while allowing new entrants a fighting chance.Congress and BJP have laid out their candidacy selection criteria as both navigate the implications of new ward boundaries and shifting reservation dynamics. Congress’s Jaipur city president Sunil Sharma emphasised the party’s commitment to youth, saying, “We plan to give 50% of our tickets to people below the age of 50, aiming to bring younger faces into politics.”Sharma highlighted the importance of winning potential and integrity in candidate selection, remarking, “Candidates will be given preference to contest from their own wards. If someone won from a particular ward in the previous election but that ward has now become reserved, they will not be allowed to shift to another ward.”BJP’s Jaipur city president Amit Goyal said, “Candidate biodatas and feedback from prominent people in the area will be considered before taking a collective decision. It is not necessary for the same candidates to get tickets every time. Some are repeated while new faces are also given a chance.”Of 150 wards, specific reservations include 20 for SC candidates, six for ST, and 30 for OBC, with considerable portions reserved for women.Former deputy leader of opposition Bharat Meghwal of Congress is eyeing Ward 84, which is now reserved as an SC open seat. “I will stake my claim again for the councillor’s post,” said Meghwal, who belongs to the SC category.As the dynamics evolve, controversies arise over open general seats. Former mayoral contender Lalita Jaiswal and her husband Sanjay are deliberating on their potential candidacies from BJP for the newly formed Ward 111, which has become an open general seat. “If the party prefers a woman candidate, my wife will contest. If it prefers a male candidate, I will contest,” Sanjay said.Echoing similar sentiments, Congress’s Rajeev Chaudhary, who aims to contest from the new Ward 52, said, “Getting a ticket would be challenging, but I am ready for it as a Congress worker.” With multiple contenders emerging for each seat, the race for political prominence in Jaipur is only expected to heat up as the election date nears.
