BJP Sweeps Kota Municipal Council as Fenesta Commissions New Aluminium Plant
Kota dominated headlines this week across two fronts: politics and industry. The Bharatiya Janata Party secured control of the Kota Municipal Corporation in Rajasthan local body elections, even as repolling in select wards drew scrutiny from election authorities. On the economic front, Gurugram-based manufacturer Fenesta commissioned a new aluminium extrusion facility in the city, signaling fresh industrial investment beyond Kota traditional reputation as an education and coaching hub.
🗳️ BJP Claims Kota Municipal Win
The Bharatiya Janata Party secured a decisive victory in the Kota Municipal Corporation elections, consolidating the ruling party hold over one of Rajasthan most politically significant cities. ThePrint reported that BJP won the Kota municipal council outright, though results elsewhere in the state proved more competitive. The performance in Kota stood in contrast to BJP struggles in other parts of Rajasthan, where the Congress party and independent candidates made inroads. The Kota election results came after a contentious period that included repolling in select wards across Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, and Suket, ordered by election authorities citing irregularities in earlier rounds. Bhaskar English reported that Congress ultimately won six seats in the statewide repolling while BJP took three, though the party overall position in Kota itself remained strong. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma personally campaigned in Kota ahead of the polls, invoking the concept of a triple engine government — combining central, state, and local governance — as a promise of accelerated development for the city. His Kota campaign focused heavily on infrastructure and economic growth, targeting Congress over its record in local governance and framing the election as a test of the ruling party developmental agenda for Rajasthan. [5]
🏢 Fenesta Opens Kota Aluminium Extrusion Plant
Windows and doors manufacturer Fenesta has commissioned a new aluminium extrusion plant in Kota, marking a significant industrial expansion for the city economic landscape. The Gurugram-based company, which operates as the windows and doors business of DCMShriram Ltd, said the new facility will initially support its internal extrusion requirements, giving it greater control over production quality and reducing dependence on external suppliers. Beyond captive use, the plant is expected to serve original equipment manufacturers and other external aluminium extrusion users, opening a new commercial business vertical for Fenesta in the broader market. The company Business Head Saket Jain described aluminium as an important and fast-evolving segment, citing significant potential across windows, facades, and other applications. The investment represents a strategic bet on Kota as a viable manufacturing hub in Rajasthan. By bringing extrusion production in-house, Fenesta says it will be better positioned to innovate and develop new aluminium systems for its expanding product lines. The plant arrival is expected to create local employment and strengthen the city industrial base, coming at a time when Kota has been far better known for its engineering and medical coaching academies than for large-scale manufacturing activity. [10]
Hospital Deaths After C-Sections Prompt Protests
A healthcare tragedy unfolded when two women who underwent caesarean sections at the Bundi district women hospital died after being transferred to Kota for further treatment. ETV Bharat reported that the women conditions deteriorated following their surgeries, prompting referral to a medical facility in Kota, where both ultimately succumbed. A third woman from the same group remained in critical condition. Villagers and family members staged protests at the native place of one of the deceased, identified as Varsha Sen, demanding accountability from the hospital and the responsible medical staff. The incident raised urgent questions about the quality of obstetric care available in the region government health facilities, and whether referral pathways between district and divisional hospitals are adequate for emergency cases. Maternal mortality linked to complications from caesarean sections has been a persistent concern in Rajasthan, where many rural and semi-urban women rely on government-run district hospitals for childbirth. Advocates and healthcare workers have long called for better training, staffing, and monitoring at these facilities. The Kota case is expected to draw attention from state health authorities, who face pressure to investigate whether the deaths resulted from surgical negligence, inadequate post-operative care, or systemic failures in referral protocols. [1]
Sources: [5] ThePrint · [10] AL Circle · [1] ETV Bharat