Turnout at 45% for civic body polls: Ahmedabad keeps democracy cool in 45°C heat

Ahmedabad: Amdavadis voted on Sunday to elect 190 corporators to the state's largest municipal corporation, recording a voter turnout of 45.7% in 45°C heat. The 2021 turnout for civic body polls was 42.5%.No major law and order issues were reported, though Congress and BJP workers briefly clashed at a polling station in Kubernagar ward and allegations of "booth capturing" flew in three polling booths in Khadia. The administration set up 4,257 polling stations for over 38 lakh voters. Of the 17.4 lakh who voted on Sunday, 49% were men and 41% were women. Prime Minister Narendra Modi mailed in his vote, while Union home minister Amit Shah, his family, and chief minister Bhupendra Patel cast votes in person. Long queues were observed in eastern areas like Lambha, Ramol, Gomtipur, Behrampura, and Dariapur, as well as in western areas like Navrangpura, Chandkheda, Bodakdev, and Thaltej. Between 7am and 9am, an average turnout of 6% was recorded, which increased to 16.8% by 11am. By 1pm, the figure rose to 29.2%, and subsequently reached 38.1%. By 5pm, the estimated average turnout was 42.3%, and by 6pm, it was 45.7%. In the 2026 elections for 190 seats in 48 wards of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, 652 candidates from BJP, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, AIMIM and other parties, along with independents, contested. Eastern wards saw higher participation than western wards. Muslim-majority wards such as Behrampura (58%) and Danilimda (56%) registered high voting. The vote count will be held on April 28. In the 2010 election, turnout was 44.1%; in 2015, 46.5%; and in 2021, 42.5%. "Compared to the 2021 voter list, there was a reduction of 8.2 lakh voters in the 2026 list," said a senior Ahmedabad collectorate official. "Nearly 45 wards saw a decrease in voter numbers, while Chandkheda, Nikol, and Maktampura wards registered an increase."
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