Ahmedabad: The battle for Ahmedabad’s civic body may be citywide, but the western region continues to hold the key. With 72 seats across 18 wards and high property tax contributions, the region carries both political and financial clout. And, it has consistently backed the BJP in overwhelming numbers. The 2026 civic polls come with a surprising twist: a sharp drop in voter numbers. Yet, the broader trend remains unchanged.The western region delivered a near sweep for the BJP in the 2021 Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) elections. The party won 67 seats, leaving Congress with just two and AIMIM with three. As the 2026 civic polls approach, Congress is hoping for a turnaround, but the arithmetic remains heavily stacked against it.This time, the voter base itself has shifted. Compared to 2021, the western region has seen a decline of 2.39 lakh voters across 16 wards, while only two wards recorded a marginal increase of 538 voters, taking the total to a still substantial 14.27 lakh voters.The three zones in the western region also serve as the civic body’s financial backbone. It accounts for the largest share of property tax revenue, making it politically significant. Property tax data further highlights the region’s importance. As of March 27, AMC collected Rs 2,271.24 crore in property tax for 2025-26. Of this, Rs 1,227.37 crore came from the western region’s three zones, compared to Rs 1,043.87 crore from four zones in the east.Middle-class and upper-middle-class voters dominate this belt, a segment where the BJP has traditionally enjoyed strong support. Congress, on the other hand, is banking on limited pockets like Chandkheda, Maktampura, Sarkhej and Stadium wards, where contests are expected to be tighter. In the remaining 14 wards, the BJP continues to hold a clear advantage.Ahmedabad city spans 480.88 sq km, with 233.43 sq km in the west and 247.45 sq km in the east. While the west has 72 seats across 18 wards, the eastern region has 120 seats across 30 wards. In 2021, the BJP dominated both regions, winning 93 of 120 seats in the east as well. Congress secured 22 seats in the east, while AIMIM won four and one seat went to an independent candidate. Overall, the BJP won 160 of 192 seats, the Congress 24, the AIMIM seven, and one independent candidate was elected.The BJP’s dominance in AMC elections has been consistent, with victories in 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2021. Congress last held power in 2000. A major shift came after the 2007 delimitation, when several areas, including Chandkheda, Ranip, Kaligam, Thaltej, Sarkhej, Bodakdev, Vejalpur, and Jodhpur, were merged into the AMC limits, significantly expanding the western region. In 2021, the Bopal-Ghuma municipal area was also added. These expansions strengthened the BJP’s base in the west while weakening Congress.Development has also been concentrated in this region. Over the past five years, multiple large projects have been implemented or approved here. These include the Naroda Sports Complex for Rs 825 crore, a road development project named Sports, Education, Health Precinct Area costing Rs 334 crore, and an iconic road development project, covering five roads located in the western region, costing Rs 405 crore. Upcoming and planned works include a Rs 660 crore project on SG Highway and a Rs 692 crore city square development on Sindhu Bhavan Road in Bodakdev. The biggest ongoing project is the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave in Motera for Rs 5,050 crore.
