Ahmedabad: The city heads to the polls on Sunday for the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) elections, with voting scheduled for 190 of the 192 seats across 48 wards. Two seats have already been declared uncontested. To manage the exercise, authorities have set up 4,257 polling stations, where more than 38 lakh voters are expected to cast their ballots. The counting of votes will take place on April 28.A total of 652 candidates are in the fray, representing parties such as the BJP, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), AIMIM, along with several independents. The election is being closely watched, especially given the BJP’s long-standing dominance in the civic body.The BJP has been in power in the AMC since 2005. In the 2021 elections, it won 159 out of 191 seats, with one seat uncontested, taking its total to 160. Congress secured 24 seats, AIMIM won seven, and one seat went to an independent candidate.The 2015 civic polls were held in December, while the next round was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and took place in February 2021. The current election cycle has also been pushed back, with voting now set for April 26. With peak summer conditions prevailing, high temperatures are expected to play a role in voter turnout.Past turnout figures show a fluctuating pattern. In 2010, turnout stood at 44.12%, which rose to 46.51% in 2015 before dropping to 42.51% in 2021. With the ongoing heatwave conditions, there are concerns that turnout could dip further this time.The voter base has also undergone a significant shift. The final electoral roll released on April 1, shows 38,00,507 voters in the city — a drop of 8,24,131 compared to 2021, when the figure stood at 46,24,638. In 2015, the voter count was 38,79,771. Of the 48 wards, 45 have recorded a decline in voter numbers.Navrangpura has seen the sharpest fall, with 29,939 fewer voters compared to the previous list. On the other hand, Nikol has recorded the highest increase, with 3,902 additional voters. Chandkheda and Maktampura are the other two wards where voter numbers have gone up. The revised figures indicate a notable reshaping of the city’s electoral landscape ahead of polling day. Heavyweight Candidates Clash In AMC ElectionsThe electoral battlefield for control over the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) features a lineup of “heavyweight” candidates as both the BJP and Congress deploy seasoned veterans to secure key wards.The BJP has fielded several former committee heads to consolidate its stronghold. Prominent faces include former standing committee chairmen Devang Dani (Bodakdev) and Hitesh Barot (Thaltej). Joining them are former AMTS chairman Dharamshi Desai (Bodakdev), former revenue committee chairman Jainik Vakil (Paldi) and Jashu Thakor (Shahibaug).The Congress party has countered with its own influential leaders to reclaim urban ground. Their list is headlined by former leader of opposition Shehzad Khan Pathan, contesting from Danilimda. Other key Congress contenders include Nirav Bakshi (Dariapur) and Rajshree Kesari in Chandkheda. With powerhouses from both sides in the fray, all eyes are on Sunday’s turnout to decide the city’s civic future.
