The ruling BJP took an early lead as counting of votes progressed on Monday for councillor posts in 309 urban local bodies across Rajasthan, winning 1,937 wards against the Congress' 1,646.

According to official figures available till 11.45 am, Independent candidates had won 1,040 wards, while the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) bagged 42, Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) eight, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and CPI(M) six each and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) five.

Results for 4,690 of the total 10,245 wards had been declared till then. The figures include candidates who were elected unopposed.

A total of 77 candidates were elected unopposed before polling.

Counting began at 8 am at designated centres across the state amid tight security.

While the BJP has taken an early lead in the trends, Congress leaders said several seats where their candidates are expected to win are yet to be counted.

Rajasthan Congress Legislature Party Chief Whip Rafeeq Khan said the party's tally would rise as counting progresses. He predicted that Congress would win more than 60 ward seats.

“The results that have come in so far show the BJP leading, but the results for our winning seats are yet to come. The counting for those hasn't even been done yet,” Khan told ANI.

He claimed that Congress would win two to three more seats than the BJP in the Adarsh Nagar Assembly constituency in Jaipur. He also said similar trends were expected in Kishanpole and Hawamahal.

Congress candidate from Ajmer Norat Gurjar also expressed confidence that his party would form the next civic board.

“Expectations are very high. The public has opted for change this time; the upcoming board will be formed by the Congress party,” Gurjar told ANI.

Counting begins amid tight security

In Jodhpur, counting for the municipal corporation elections began at 8 am under heightened security. The city went to polls in the second phase on September 11, with voting held across 100 wards and 729 polling booths.

Ajmer District Collector Lok Bandhu said detailed arrangements had been made for the counting process. Postal ballots are being counted first, while EVM counting has also begun in municipal corporations where postal ballots are not involved.

Six counting halls have been set up in Ajmer, with entry restricted to authorised counting agents, candidates and election agents carrying valid passes. Mobile phones have been prohibited inside the counting rooms.

Authorities have also imposed restrictions on victory celebrations, with Section 163 in force to prevent victory processions.

Repolling ordered at Rajasthan booth

The counting comes a day after the Rajasthan State Election Commission ordered repolling at a booth in Tilawala, Sanganer.

The decision followed an incident in which 110 voters whose names appeared on the deletion list reportedly cast their votes during polling on September 11. Repolling is scheduled at Government Upper Primary School, Tilawala, from 7 am to 6 pm.

The second and final phase of polling concluded on Friday, recording a voter turnout of 70.01 per cent across 147 civic bodies. Polling has now been completed in all 309 urban local bodies.

The election of chairpersons is scheduled for September 21, followed by elections for deputy chairpersons on September 22.