JAIPUR: BJP is surging ahead the in Rajasthan civic polls, as the counting is under way for 129 civic bodies .

According to latest reports, BJP is ahead in 53 out of 129 seats. Congress are leading in 25 seats and independents are ahead at 21 places.

The civic polls are a political test for the Vasundhara Raje government which has been embroiled in Lalit Modi controversy over the past few months.

While, the BJP exuded confidence that it would sweep the polls, the Congress said the results would be in its favour due to the "wrong doings" of the state government.

Meanwhile, commissioner of Rajasthan State Election Commission (RSEC) Ramlubhaya said that the counting started at 8am in the 129 civic bodies which had gone to polls on August 17, witnessing 76.05 per cent turnout.

The results would be declared by evening, he said.

BJP president Ashok Parnami said the higher voter turnout showed that people endorsed the development works carried out by the state government.

Dismissing Lalitgate controversy, however, Parnami said Thursday's result would be in Raje's favour and would be self-evidentary.

Meanwhile, PCC president Sachin Pilot said that the results would be in Congress' favour simply due to the "wrong doings" of Raje government in last 21 months of its rule.

Pilot alleged that BJP government had become so frustrated due to the controversy that its party workers had attacked Congress candidates during electioneering, following which he had lodged a complaint with RSEC.

The BJP would be on backfoot again after Thurday's results, Pilot further said, adding, that although Lalitgate was a national issue it would surely have a bearing on civic bodies' outcome.

Poll fortunes of 10,582 candidates who contested for 3306 councillor posts in 129 muncipal bodies would be declared, the commissioner said.

Forty-five councillors have already been declared uncontested winners after the withdrawal process early this month, he added.

The election of the chairpersons in 129 civic bodies, including Ajmer Municipal Corporation, would be held on August 21 in which all 3351 councillors (3306+45) would vote, and the election of deputy chairpersons would be held on August 22 in the same way, he said.

This would be first time when every elected councillor would have at least passed class X and every candidate would have a toilet in his house as the state government made the same mandatory through an ordinance, he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

