Bikaner News: 80 Municipal Corporation wards, 43 nominations filed so far; RLP and CPI join Congress and BJP in the fray.

Bikaner: The stage is set for the Municipal Corporation elections. So far, 43 nomination papers have been filed for the 80-ward Bikaner Municipal Corporation. On Saturday, 42 candidates filed 43 sets of papers, while one nomination had been submitted on Thursday. However, the full picture is expected to emerge on Monday, as it is the last day for filing nominations, and many aspirants—including those from BJP and Congress—are still awaiting party symbols and 'B-forms'.

Apart from Congress and BJP, candidates from RLP, CPI(M), AAP, BSP, and independent contenders have also thrown their hats in the ring. This indicates that the contest in this municipal election will not be limited to just the two major parties.

Candidates entering the fray in these wards: According to the nominations filed so far, in Ward 1, Mehrunisha and Mobina Bano (RLP) and Chandrakala and Saroj Devi (Congress) have filed papers. Surendra Swami is contesting as an independent in Ward 2. In Ward 3, Murali Gehlot and Anand Bhati have filed independent nominations. Mulchand is also in the fray as an independent candidate in Ward 6.

In Ward 8, Jaysingh Yadav (BSP) and Gaurav Sharma (Independent) have filed nominations. In Ward 10, Mangalchand Prajapat (AAP) and Shravanram (RLP) are facing off. Bhagwan Singh (Congress) has filed a nomination in Ward 11. Pushpendra Singh (Ward 13) and Sanjay Bhati (Ward 18) are independent candidates.

Maghi Devi (BJP) has filed a nomination in Ward 19. In Ward 21, Rehana Bano and Rizwan Khan (Congress) and Mohammad Azharuddin Gauri (RLP) have filed papers. Saroj (RLP) and Shanti (BJP) are in the fray in Ward 23. Dharmendra Singh Tanwar is an independent candidate in Ward 24. In Ward 25, RLP’s Tejaram Panwar and CPI(M)’s Razia have filed their nominations.

In Ward 27, Premratan Bhattad is contesting as an independent. In Ward 28, Congress’s Pushpa Devi and BJP’s Madhu Surana have entered the fray. In Ward 29, CPI(M)’s Prabhjyot is in the contest. In Ward 34, Vipul Sharma and Virendra Kumar are independent candidates. In Ward 38, Deepak Arora is an independent candidate. In Ward 50, Congress’s Mohit Arora has filed his nomination.

Nominations have been filed by RLP’s Anardin in Ward 53, CPI(M)’s Farzana in Ward 55, BJP’s Gopal (alias Gopal Agarwal) in Ward 62, and Congress’s Yunish Ali in Ward 67. In Ward 73, CPI(M)’s Diwan is contesting; in Ward 76, independent candidates Rajesh Chaudhary and Gopichand, along with BJP’s Gopichand, are in the fray. Meanwhile, in Ward 80, independent candidate Sonu and Congress’s Wasim Firoz have filed their nominations.

With two or three contenders in various areas, the electoral landscape in several wards has become intriguing based on the nominations filed so far. The political arithmetic has become particularly interesting in Wards 1, 21, 23, 25, 28, and 76 due to the presence of multiple candidates.

Attention is focused primarily on wards where, alongside major parties, candidates from the RLP, CPI(M), or independent candidates are also contesting. In such wards, the splitting of votes could directly influence the election results.

Real Test for BJP and Congress on Monday

So far, the names of several prominent contenders from the BJP and Congress have not appeared in the filed nominations. Both parties are engaged in final-stage deliberations regarding ticket allocation. Many aspirants are waiting to receive the 'B-form' and the party symbol.

For this reason, the nomination centers are expected to witness the heaviest crowds on Monday. Once the tickets are announced, it will be interesting to see who secures the party nomination and whose prospects are spoiled by contenders left out of the race who decide to run as independents.