Two seasoned faces in contest as Jodhpur’s mayoral race tightens
Jodhpur — The contest for the mayor’s chair of the Jodhpur Municipal Corporation sharpened on Saturday as the Bharatiya Janata Party nominated Prasan Chand Mehta and the Indian National Congress fielded Rajendra Solanki for the mayoral election. Both leaders filed their nomination papers at the municipal office in the afternoon amid a closely balanced civic house.
Mehta arrived to file nomination papers at about 1:30 pm accompanied by senior party figures including City MLA Atul Bhansali and Sursagar MLA Devendra Joshi, according to reports. A long-time RSS-linked worker and veteran organiser, Mehta has previously served as district president and state vice-president of the BJP. He won his councillor seat from Ward 82, defeating his Congress rival.
"My priorities would include sanitation, street lighting, roads and water supply," Mehta said after filing his nomination.
Rajendra Solanki, nominated by the Congress as a non-councillor candidate, also filed his nomination on Saturday. Solanki is a former state minister who earlier served as minister of state, chairperson of the Jodhpur Development Authority (JDA) and as Leader of Opposition in the Jodhpur Municipal Corporation. He is widely seen as close to former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, as reported.
Numbers that define the contest
The mayoral election has taken on heightened significance following the municipal poll outcome, which left both national parties nearly neck-and-neck in the 100-member municipal house.
| Party / Group | Councillors (as reported) |
|---|---|
| BJP | 45 |
| Congress | 44 |
| Independents/Allies claimed by BJP | 7 |
In the initial results, both parties were reported to have won 44 wards each. A repoll in Ward 50 later gave BJP that seat, taking its tally to 45 councillors. The BJP has claimed the support of seven independent councillors and some Congress rebels, which it says brings its effective strength to 52 — one above the simple majority mark of 51 in the 100-member corporation.
- Prasan Chand Mehta: BJP candidate, ward winner (Ward 82), former district president and state vice-president.
- Rajendra Solanki: Congress candidate, non-councillor, ex-state minister and former JDA chairperson.
- House arithmetic: BJP claims 52 backing (45 councillors + 7 independents); majority is 51 in the 100-member house.
The BJP expressed confidence after Mehta’s nomination about securing the mayoral post. Sursagar MLA Devendra Joshi was reported to have voiced optimism for the party’s prospects. The Congress drew a measure of unity ahead of nominations when Liyaqat Ali Rangrez, a party rebel, reportedly rejoined the party; a nomination form was also taken out for Saraswati Prajapat of Ward 51, as per reports.
Implications for civic governance
With sanitation, street lighting, roads and water supply listed among Mehta’s immediate priorities, the election outcome will directly shape short-term municipal governance and service delivery in Jodhpur. The closely split mandate means the mayoral vote in the corporation will likely hinge on the support of independents and erstwhile rebels, making post-poll negotiations crucial for stable administration.
For residents of the arid region and the city’s historic wards, the promise of improved water supply and roads resonates particularly strongly. The mayoral election will therefore be watched closely across neighbourhoods where municipal service deficits remain salient issues.
Nomination papers having been filed, the campaign now moves to the next phase where both parties will seek to consolidate the support of councillors and independents ahead of the mayoral election.
