The ruling Congress in Rajasthan notched up further victories in the state on Thursday, sweeping the civic body elections. The party even wrested mayoral posts from the BJP’s traditional bastions of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Kota.

After the counting ended on Thursday for civic bodies and for the first time their heads as well, the Congress candidates won as either presidents or chairpersons in 25 other civic bodies. While the BJP managed 10, the BSP and an Independent managed one victory each. The Congress is set to form the boards in 25 bodies, the BJP in 16 and Independents in the remaining.

For the first time in the state, the electorate voted to choose the head of their respective civic body, and the Congress managed a clean sweep. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said the mandate of the people was clear since the Congress had won the Assembly elections last year, the Lok Sabha elections in May, and now the civic body elections.

“Kota and Jaipur will see a Congress mayor after a long time and it is indeed a major victory. The people have shown that they trust the Congress,” Gehlot said. However, the BJP, despite its poor performance, managed to secure the board in Jaipur where they won 46 of the city’s 77 wards, as compared to the Congress’s 26. The BJP also registered victories in Udaipur and Kota.

Elections were held in 46 civic bodies including for the mayor’s post in four municipal corporations, chairman’s post in 11 municipal councils and chairperson’s post in 31 municipal boards on November 23.