The Bharatiya Janata Party has won a majority of seats in the Panchayat Samiti and the Zila Parishad elections in Rajasthan, which were held in 21 districts of the state, reported The Times of India on Wednesday. The two elections were held simultaneously and the counting of votes is still under way.

Out of the 4,371 Panchayat Samiti seats, the BJP has already bagged 1,989, while the Congress managed to win 1,852 seats. Meanwhile, out of the 636 seats of the Zila Parishad, the BJP has won 353 seats while the Congress bagged 252.

As many as 422 Independents, 56 Rashtriya Loktantrik Party leaders and 16 CPM members won in Panchayat Samiti elections. The Independents are likely to play a significant role in forming the Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishads.

In Tonk Panchayat Samiti, where no party won a majority, three Independent candidates who hold the key to form the board, pledged their support to Congress MLA Sachin Pilot. Of the 19 seats, the BJP won nine, Congress seven and Independents three.

The elections were held in four phases in 21 districts of Ajmer, Banswara, Barmer, Bhilwara, Bikaner, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Churu, Dungarpur, Hanumangarh, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jhalawar, Jhunjhunu, Nagaur, Pali, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, Sikar, Tonk and Udaipur. The results will decide the fate of 1,778 candidates in the Zila Parishad elections, and 12,663 candidates in the Panchayat Samiti election.

BJP leaders celebrate victory

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje congratulated the BJP candidates on their victory. “Heartfelt thanks also to the people of the state, who have reposed faith in the BJP by denying the false claims of the Congress government,” she said in a statement.

BJP state president Satish Poonia said the results of the Panchayati Raj elections were a “sure sign of a farewell to this corrupt government” of the Congress. “The people of the village have expressed confidence in the BJP and appreciated the efforts of the Narendra Modi government and BJP organisations of the Centre,” he said.

BJP President JP Nadda thanked the people of Rajasthan for having faith in his party. “This victory in Rajasthan shows that poor, farmers, labourers have imposed their trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he tweeted.

One killed in victory procession

Meanwhile, in Fatehpur area of Sikar district, a man was killed and 10 were injured after clashes erupted between two communities during an election victory procession.

The deceased was identified as Kanhaiya Lal, the state police said, adding the injured people have been admitted to a government hospital.

Additional police force was deployed in the area to maintain law and order, the police said.