Vinita Punia's 10‑vote triumph over Prem Devi's 9 in the 19‑ballot count sealed her as chairperson of Khatu Shyam municipality.
The vote, held on September 25, 2024, came after the election was postponed from September 21 because councillor Lakshmi Devi vanished and her husband filed a missing‑person report alleging abduction.
Rajasthan High Court, hearing counsel Bahadur Singh, ruled that a single complaint could not halt the poll, and that the result should be based on the ballots actually cast.
With control of the town that draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year, the Congress victory could shift policy priorities for the municipality’s infrastructure and tourism management.