📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Sneharshidasgupta
Politics
BJP faces internal clash over Ward 76 candidate in Jaipur municipal elections
✍️ Amar Ujala · Rajasthan
🗓 31 Aug 2026, 05:38 PM
👁 22
A dispute has erupted in Rajasthan's BJP as MLA Kalicharan Saraf backed Kuldeep Mishra for Ward 76, while the state leadership endorsed Punit Karnawat as the official candidate.
The upcoming Jaipur Municipal Corporation elections have entered a contentious phase in Ward 76, a seat that could influence the balance of power within the city's council. Local party workers and residents are closely watching the candidate selection, as the ward is considered a stronghold for the Bharatiya Janata Party.
A sharp disagreement surfaced when sitting MLA Kalicharan Saraf publicly handed the party symbol to Kuldeep Mishra, signalling his endorsement as the BJP's nominee for the ward. Simultaneously, the state BJP leadership issued a separate notification naming Punit Karnawat as the authorized candidate, creating a parallel claim to the same ticket.
The dual nominations have sparked confusion among party cadres and raised questions about internal coordination ahead of the polls. Sources within the party say senior officials are attempting to resolve the issue through a meeting of the state executive, but no consensus has been reached yet.
Analysts warn that the dispute could erode voter confidence in the BJP's local organization and potentially benefit rival parties. The municipal election schedule remains unchanged, with voting in Jaipur slated for later this month, leaving little time for the party to settle the candidacy controversy.
A sharp disagreement surfaced when sitting MLA Kalicharan Saraf publicly handed the party symbol to Kuldeep Mishra, signalling his endorsement as the BJP's nominee for the ward. Simultaneously, the state BJP leadership issued a separate notification naming Punit Karnawat as the authorized candidate, creating a parallel claim to the same ticket.
The dual nominations have sparked confusion among party cadres and raised questions about internal coordination ahead of the polls. Sources within the party say senior officials are attempting to resolve the issue through a meeting of the state executive, but no consensus has been reached yet.
Analysts warn that the dispute could erode voter confidence in the BJP's local organization and potentially benefit rival parties. The municipal election schedule remains unchanged, with voting in Jaipur slated for later this month, leaving little time for the party to settle the candidacy controversy.