📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Moguls, Delhi c.1863 By Shepherd & Robertson, Mayo
Politics
Ajmer mayoral race pits BJP’s Anamika Sharma against Congress’s Kiran Gadhwal, independents hold the balance
✍️ Amar Ujala · Ajmer
🗓 16 Sep 2026, 04:45 PM
👁 9
In Ajmer’s mayoral contest, BJP fielded Anamika Sharma and Congress nominated Kiran Gadhwal, both elected from general women wards; with no party securing a majority, the support of 11 independent councillors becomes decisive.
The municipal corporation of Ajmer has seen a direct face‑off between two women candidates this year. The Bharatiya Janata Party put forward Anamika Sharma, while the Indian National Congress nominated Kiran Gadhwal. Both candidates secured their nominations after winning the general women ward seats in the recent council elections.
Anamika Sharma and Kiran Gadhwal each emerged victorious from their respective women‑reserved wards, positioning them as the leading contenders for the mayor’s chair. Their personal victories reflect the growing participation of women in local governance across Rajasthan.
However, the overall composition of the Ajmer Municipal Corporation did not grant any single party a clear majority. The BJP and Congress together hold fewer seats than required to elect a mayor unilaterally. Consequently, the 11 councillors who ran as independents have become the pivotal factor in determining which candidate will ultimately assume the mayoral office.
Political analysts note that the independents’ alignment could tilt the balance toward either side, making post‑election negotiations crucial. The outcome will shape the city’s administrative agenda for the coming term, especially in areas such as urban development, sanitation, and public services.
Anamika Sharma and Kiran Gadhwal each emerged victorious from their respective women‑reserved wards, positioning them as the leading contenders for the mayor’s chair. Their personal victories reflect the growing participation of women in local governance across Rajasthan.
However, the overall composition of the Ajmer Municipal Corporation did not grant any single party a clear majority. The BJP and Congress together hold fewer seats than required to elect a mayor unilaterally. Consequently, the 11 councillors who ran as independents have become the pivotal factor in determining which candidate will ultimately assume the mayoral office.
Political analysts note that the independents’ alignment could tilt the balance toward either side, making post‑election negotiations crucial. The outcome will shape the city’s administrative agenda for the coming term, especially in areas such as urban development, sanitation, and public services.