Khatushyamji municipality chairman, vice-chairman elections postponed as polling halted after midnight
Jaipur: The election for the posts of Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Khatushyamji Municipality in Sikar district was postponed amid a late-night dispute over the absence of Congress councillor Lakshmi Devi from the voting process.
The controversy began after Lakshmi Devi, the Congress councillor from Ward 10, failed to appear for voting. The voting deadline was extended several times to allow her to cast her vote. According to local reports, the process continued late into Monday night, with the voting records eventually sealed after midnight.
The Returning Officer subsequently announced that the election had been postponed until further orders following directions from the State Election Commission.
The dispute is significant because the 20-member Khatushyamji Municipality has an equal number of BJP and Congress councillors—eight each—along with three Independents and one RLP councillor.
Eleven votes are required for a majority. The political drama continued throughout Monday after Lakshmi Devi did not reach the polling venue.
The Returning Officer extended the voting time repeatedly, with reports putting the final extension at around 11:30 p.m.. BJP leaders and supporters staged a sit-in outside the municipality, demanding that Lakshmi Devi be allowed to vote.
A complaint was also lodged with the police over allegations concerning her disappearance. These allegations have been made by her family and BJP supporters; they have not been established as fact.
Congress leaders, meanwhile, objected to the repeated extensions. Congress MLA Virendra Singh, district president Sunita Githala and former Pradhan Bhanwarlal Verma reportedly approached the District Collector, questioning the extension of the polling deadline.
The sit-ins by supporters of both parties continued amid the uncertainty. BJP leaders alleged that Congress had deliberately kept its councillor away from the voting process, while the councillor’s family levelled allegations against the Congress. Lakshmi Devi is the councillor from Ward 10 and was elected on a Congress ticket. Election records show that she won the ward with 172 votes, defeating BJP’s Mamta Devi by 37 votes.
BJP candidate Prem Devi and Congress candidate Vinita Poonia are contesting for the Chairman’s post. Reports have described Lakshmi Devi as a relative of Prem Devi, adding another dimension to the dispute.
After the protests ended, supporters of both parties left the municipality premises. Memorandums containing their respective demands were submitted to the election authorities.
The voting records were secured and sealed in the presence of representatives of both parties. BJP leaders also contacted senior state-level officials to apprise them of the developments.
Late on Monday night, Returning Officer Kapil Upadhyay told the media that, following instructions from the State Election Commission, the elections for Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Khatushyamji Municipality had been postponed until further orders.
The final outcome of the Chairman’s election will, therefore, be known only after the election authorities issue further directions.