Jaipur, Sept. 11 -- Rajasthan's urban local body elections enter their most politically consequential phase on Friday, with the BJP and Congress facing a direct test of their influence in the state's biggest cities and the political strongholds of several heavyweight leaders. From chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's Jaipur to former chief minister Ashok Gehlot's Jodhpur, the results will be closely watched for what they signal about the BJP's grip on urban Rajasthan and Congress's ability to stage a comeback. Unlike the first phase, which was dominated by smaller urban bodies, Friday's polling covers six municipal corporations - Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur, Ajmer and Pali. The contests will put the political standing of leaders including Sharma, Gehlot, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani, BJP state president Madan Rathore and several ministers and local heavyweights to test. The battle is also complicated by rebels and independents, who have emerged as potential spoilers for both major parties in several wards. Their presence could alter individual contests and become crucial in the post-poll race to form municipal boards. Political analyst Manish Godha said the second phase carries greater political significance despite having fewer wards than the first. "Although the number of wards is lower, all the major cities are part of this phase. The voter base is much larger and the real mandate of the urban electorate will be reflected in these results," he said. According to Godha, most civic bodies in the first phase were smaller towns, many of them upgraded from panchayats, while Jaipur alone has more than 24 lakh voters. "From the perspective of setting the political narrative, this phase is the most important," he said. Jaipur will be the biggest battleground, with 150 wards, 723 candidates and more than 24.33 lakh voters. The result in the state capital will be closely watched as an indicator of how urban voters assess the Bhajan Lal Sharma government and the opposition Congress. For the BJP, the election is a test of whether its government and organisational machinery can translate into support in the capital. Congress, meanwhile, is seeking to turn local grievances and anti-incumbency into votes. Rebels and independents have added another layer to the contest in several wards, making the outcome and subsequent board formation arithmetic less predictable. Jodhpur, with 100 wards and 7.12 lakh voters, is another key political battleground. The city is considered former chief minister Ashok Gehlot's political stronghold, making the civic poll a test of Congress's ability to retain its influence and the BJP's capacity to make inroads. The results will be watched not just for the ward tally but also for what they indicate about the influence of local leaders, party organisations and established political equations. Kota, which has 100 wards and 8.26 lakh voters, presents another high-profile contest. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and senior Congress leader Shanti Dhariwal have been major political figures in the city, while BJP leaders including ministers Madan Dilawar and Heeralal Nagar also have significant influence in the region. The results are expected to provide a measure of the BJP's organisational strength and whether Congress's traditional local network continues to hold sway. Udaipur has 80 wards and 4.16 lakh voters, while Ajmer has 80 wards and 4.38 lakh voters. BJP leaders Gautam Dak, Mannalal Rawat, Vasudev Devnani and Bhagirath Chaudhary will be among those watched closely, alongside Congress leaders such as Raghu Sharma. Pali, the smallest of the six corporations, has 65 wards and 1.81 lakh voters. BJP state president Madan Rathore's regional influence, along with that of Pali MP PP Chaudhary and senior leader Gyanchand Parakh, adds significance to the contest. Six of Rajasthan's 10 mayors will emerge from these civic bodies. Godha said the phase was particularly important because it covers the state's major cities, where the BJP has traditionally performed strongly. The results will therefore offer a broader test of BJP and Congress support among urban voters and could significantly shape the political narrative emerging from the civic elections...