Five armed with licences are in fray

Ahmedabad: In the AMC election, five candidates have stated in their affidavits that they possess licences for guns, pistols or revolvers. These candidates, contesting from the Ghatlodia, Gota, Vejalpur and Thaltej wards of the city, have disclosed ownership of licensed firearms. The candidates include BJP nominees Hitesh Barot from Thaltej, Pravin Ambalal Patel from Ghatlodia, Ketan Kumar Patel from Gota, Devang Mehta and Rajesh Thakor from Vejalpur, all of whom have reported owning weapons along with valid licences. Notably, BJP candidate Rajesh Thakor from Vejalpur has declared ownership of both a revolver and a 12-bore gun.In the 2021 election, Barot contested from Thaltej ward as a BJP candidate for the first time and secured victory with 28,602 votes. After becoming a corporator from Thaltej, he served as chairman of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's standing committee for two and a half years. He is contesting again in the 2026 election and has declared in his affidavit that he holds a revolver licence, with the weapon valued at Rs 71,185. Rajesh Thakor earlier served as a corporator between 2021 and 2026 and held the position of party whip for two and a half years. He is seeking re-election in 2026 and has disclosed in his affidavit that he owns a revolver valued at Rs 68,000 and a 12-bore gun worth Rs 20,000. Pravin Patel is contesting for the second time. In the 2021 election, BJP candidate Manoj Kumar Patel won from Ghatlodia but later resigned after moving abroad, leaving the seat vacant. In the 2025 byelection, Pravin Patel won as a BJP candidate. He is again in the fray in 2026 and has declared ownership of a revolver worth Rs 76,716. Former corporator Ketan Kumar Patel has disclosed owning a revolver valued at Rs 95,000. Devang Mehta, another BJP candidate, has declared owning a pistol worth Rs 2.10 lakh. In the 2026 AMC election, 1,553 nomination forms were filed across 48 wards of the city. The final number of candidates contesting in each ward will be clear on Tuesday.