Ahmedabad: The The old city areas of Ahmedabad is heading for a tight electoral contest, with the BJP, Congress, and AIMIM going head-to-head across all 16 seats spread over four wards. While these three parties remain the main players, candidates from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and several independents are expected to influence the final outcome.In the 2021 Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) elections, the 16 seats were split between the three main parties. BJP won seven seats, Congress secured five, and AIMIM took four. The results were sharply divided by ward. Congress swept all four seats in Dariapur, AIMIM did the same in Jamalpur, BJP dominated Khadia with all four seats, and in Shahpur, BJP won three seats while Congress managed one.Jamalpur wardThis ward is likely to be one of the most closely watched this time. There are 19 candidates in the fray. In 2021, AIMIM had won all four seats here, but the equations have changed. Two former AIMIM councillors are now contesting from other sides. Rafik Sheikh is in the race as an independent candidate, while Mustak Khadiwala is contesting on a Congress ticket. Another former AIMIM councillor, Afsanabanu Chishti, is contesting again. Overall, three councillors who had won earlier are now fighting from different parties.In Jamalpur, Congress has fielded Mustak Khadiwala, Faiz Mohammad Marfatia, Najninbanu Thakor and Saniya Pathan. AIMIM candidates include Afsanabanu Chishti, Nasrinbanu Qureshi, Abdulahad Pathan and Mohammad Yasin Tekrawala. BJP has Pratapsingh Rawat, Jyotika Vaghela, Priyanka Kahar and Tarun Padhiar in the fray. AAP candidates Azra Kelawala and Aftab Ahmed Saiyed are also contesting. Amin Ajmeri and Shahnawaz Sheikh are contesting as candidates from the SDPI party. Additionally, two independent candidates from the Muslim community have added to the competition.Jamalpur ward has 81,395 voters, with a majority from the Muslim community. Within this, the Chhipa community is considered influential. Both Congress and AIMIM have fielded four Muslim candidates each, including one candidate from the Chhipa community. The contest here is largely seen as a direct fight between Congress and AIMIM, with independents likely to play a deciding role.Shahpur wardSixteen candidates are contesting in this ward. In 2021, BJP won three of the four seats, while Congress won one. Congress has fielded former councillor Akbar Bhati along with three new candidates: Indira Parmar, Asha Dantani and Brijesh Sharma. BJP has repeated Rekha Chauhan and fielded Hitendra Parmar, Jitendra Chauhan and Rashmi Shah. AAP has four candidates — Naran Parmar, Iqbal Mansuri, Jashi Rathod and Shobhana Rawat— in the race, while AIMIM has fielded Majid Hussain Sheikh. There are also three independent Muslim candidates. Shahpur has 67,441 voters, and the outcome is influenced by Dalit, Muslim and Devipujak communities.Dariapur wardThis ward has the highest number of candidates at 23. Congress, which had won all four seats here in 2021, has repeated three candidates and fielded one former councillor. The candidates include Nirav Bakshi, Sameera Sheikh, Mona Prajapati and Imtiyaz Hussain Sheikh. BJP has fielded Naresh Pawar, Sheelat Panchal, Rinku Dantaniya and Bhupendra Bharwad. AIMIM candidates include Ruknoddin Momin (Raju Momin), Azminabanu Sheikh, Farhanabanu Mansuri and Anis Ahmed Sheikh. AAP and Samajwadi Party have also fielded four candidates each, along with other contenders. The ward has 77,702 voters, with Muslim voters forming the dominant group.Khadia wardFifteeen candidates have been fielded in Khadia ward has 15 candidates. BJP, which had won all four seats here in 2021, has fielded Pankaj Bhatt again. Hetal Nayak, wife of former councillor Umang Nayak, has also been given a ticket. Other BJP candidates include Pareshkumar Anand and Shwetal Shah. Congress candidates are Birju Thakkar, Meena Nayak, Dhruvkumar Kalapi and Mohammad Ilyaskhan Pathan. AAP has fielded Majidkhan Pathan, Munira Merchant and Mukesh Chauhan, while AIMIM’s candidate is Maksud Sharabuwala. There are also three independent candidates. Khadia has 73,098 voters, with Hindu voters forming the majority.
