Following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s victory in the Rajasthan Urban Local Body elections, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Tuesday said the results reflected public approval of the work carried out in the state over the past two-and-a-half years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sharma credited the Centre’s initiatives and support for Rajasthan with contributing to the BJP’s electoral performance.

Speaking to reporters, Sharma said the verdict was a “seal of approval” from the people for the work undertaken by his government. He pointed to projects and initiatives covering water, the Rising Rajasthan programme, Jaipur Metro and tourism development as examples of the Centre’s contribution to the state. Sharma also thanked the people and youth of Rajasthan for supporting what he described as the vision of Prime Minister Modi.

The Chief Minister further claimed that his government had fulfilled 78 per cent of the promises made in its election manifesto within two-and-a-half years. He said the election outcome reflected people’s faith in the BJP and its leadership. Sharma also expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the party’s performance in the local body polls.

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The BJP emerged ahead of the Congress in the elections held across Rajasthan, winning 4,179 wards compared with the Congress’ 3,613. The ruling party also secured clear majorities in four of the state’s 10 municipal corporations. The Congress, meanwhile, won a majority in the Bikaner Municipal Corporation and registered a significant victory in the Jhalawar Municipal Council, regarded as a stronghold of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

Independents also emerged as a major force in the elections, winning 2,273 wards and dominating the result in the Bharatpur Municipal Corporation. Independents won 36 of Bharatpur’s 65 wards, while the BJP secured 20 and the Congress seven. The Bahujan Samaj Party and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party won one ward each.

The Bharatpur result carried additional political significance as the city is the hometown of Chief Minister Sharma. As the election results came in, Sharma attributed the BJP’s performance to people’s faith in the party and the central leadership of Prime Minister Modi. The overall verdict is expected to provide political momentum to the BJP government as it continues implementing its development agenda across Rajasthan.

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