BJP's rebel councillor Vishnudutt Sharma elected as Mayor of Jaipur Municipal Corporation

In an embarrassment to the BJP, the party' rebel councillor Vishnudutt Sharma (Laata) was elected as the Mayor of Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) by defeating the BJP's official candidate and Acting Mayor Manoj Bharadwaj by one vote in the bypoll held on Tuesday.

Sharma was supported by the Congress and some independent councillors and some of the BJP councillors apparently cross-voted, leading to his victory.

The BJP has majority in the board.

"Of the total 90 votes, one vote was rejected. Sharma got 45 and Bharadwaj got 44 votes. After the counting, Sharma was declared elected," Returning Officer Arvind Saraswat said.

BJP's official candidate Manoj Bharadwaj was the acting mayor.

"I was supported by Congress, some of the BJP and independent councillors and I thank them," Sharma told reporters after the declaration of the result.

When asked whether he will join the Congress, he said he will take a decision on this later.

"My priority will be on the development of Jaipur," said ...