BJP and Congress Both Hand Ticket to Same Candidate in Bizarre Rajasthan Civic Poll Drama
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
In an extraordinary political mix-up during the Rajasthan urban local body elections, a single candidate in Bharatpur found himself officially declared the nominee of both rival parties the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress for Ward 19. The high-voltage confusion reached its peak on August 31, 2026, the final day for submitting nomination forms for the Bharatpur Municipal Corporation elections.
Manoj Singh, a former councillor with a history of winning both independently and on a party ticket, had submitted applications to both political camps during the selection process. Internal assessments by screening committees of both parties pegged Singh as an indispensable, winnable candidate in Ward 19. Consequently, both outfits rushed to hand him their official party symbols (Form B) to secure his nomination before the deadline closed.
Key Timeline of the Nomination Tussle
• 30 August 2026: Manoj Singh met screening panel members from both the BJP and Congress, formally putting forward his nomination requests to both sides.
• 31 August 2026 (Final Day of Nomination):
- Congress approved Singh's application based on his online registration and former ties, filing his papers with the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO).
- Almost simultaneously, the BJP issued its official symbol to Singh, confirming him as its authorised candidate for Ward 19.
• 1 September 2026: Singh publicly put the rumours to rest, opting to run on the BJP ticket while expressing support for Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's state administration.
• 1 September 2026 (Disciplinary Action): Following Singh's announcement, District Congress Committee President Dinesh Supa announced his immediate expulsion from the party for breach of discipline, leaving Congress without a candidate of its own in the ward.
Final Countdown to Polling Day
With the campaign entering its home stretch, Ward 19 has transformed into the most intensely watched battleground in Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's home district.
Voters across all 65 wards of the Bharatpur Municipal Corporation will head to polling stations on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Election officials will count the ballots and announce the official results on Thursday.
