Jaipur, Sept. 15 -- Independent candidates have emerged as the biggest spoiler in Rajasthan's urban local body elections, winning more than one in five declared wards and holding the key to board formation in several major civic bodies, including Bharatpur, Pali, Ajmer and Jodhpur. According to the latest statewide tally available on Monday evening, results had been declared for 9,269 of 10,245 wards. The BJP had won 3,795 wards, Congress 3,265 and Independents 2,080, while smaller parties together secured 129. Of the 38,889 candidates, 18,732 contested as Independents, compared with 9,290 BJP and 9,027 Congress candidates. The elections covered 10 municipal corporations, 51 municipal councils and 248 municipalities. Final figures may change as results from the remaining wards are incorporated. The Independent surge was most striking in Bharatpur Municipal Corporation, where they won 36 of 65 wards. BJP secured 20, Congress seven, and BSP and RLP one each. The result is significant as Bharatpur is chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's home district. Independents also dominated several municipalities in the district, winning 25 of 35 wards in Nadbai, 22 of 25 in Bhusawar, 20 of 25 in Weir, 22 of 35 in Bayana and 13 of 25 in Uchhain. They won 24 of 40 wards in Deeg Municipal Council. In Pali Municipal Corporation, BJP fell short of a majority in the home district of state party president Madan Rathore. Congress won 29 of 65 wards, BJP 21 and Independents 15, putting the latter in a crucial position ahead of the mayoral election. Ajmer also threw up a hung board, with Congress winning 37 of 80 wards, BJP 32 and Independents 11. Neither major party reached the 41-seat majority mark. In Jodhpur, BJP and Congress won 44 wards each, while Independents secured 10 and RLP one. Counting in one ward was halted because of an EVM malfunction. The strong Independent showing was particularly evident in smaller municipalities, where candidates' personal standing, caste and community equations, family networks and accessibility can outweigh party branding. Several winners were BJP or Congress rebels who contested after being denied tickets, while others campaigned on local issues such as roads, drainage, water supply and sanitation. Political analyst and veteran journalist Rajan Mahan said civic voters often prioritised a candidate's reputation and local record over party affiliation. "This is a lesson for both the BJP and Congress to consider the reputation of local leaders while distributing tickets, rather than merely their loyalty to senior leaders," Mahan said. Senior journalist Shripal Shaktawat attributed part of BJP's losses to discontent over UGC and EWS issues among sections of its traditional general-category support base. He said police action against UGC protesters at Jantar Mantar, widely circulated on social media, appeared to have influenced the results. He also said Congress had contested the polls "half-heartedly", with BJP deploying senior leaders as urban-body in-charges and Bhajan Lal Sharma conducting roadshows. BJP chief spokesperson Ramlal Sharma said many victorious Independents were party workers who contested after failing to secure tickets. "We are confident that the Independents will support the triple-engine government for the development of their areas," he said. Congress general secretary and state spokesperson Swarnim Chaturvedi said BJP's delimitation exercise and decision to hold urban elections before panchayat polls had backfired. He claimed many Independents were Congress workers because the party had given symbols in only around 9,000 wards. He also accused the government of using police and administration to secure Independent councillors' support. The councillor results are only the first stage. Mayors, chairpersons and presidents will be elected on September 21, followed by deputy mayors and vice-chairpersons on September 22, making Independents' support crucial in several bodies. Comparisons with the previous cycle must be made cautiously as elections between 2019 and 2021 were held in separate batches. Independents won 386 of 2,105 wards in November 2019, 595 of 1,775 in December 2020, and 634 of 3,034 in January 2021....