Wards with minorities, migrants have most candidates

Surat: For the Surat Municipal Corporation election, Ward 25 — Limbayat-Udhna Yard — has the highest number of contestants, 26, making it the most crowded electoral ward in the city. Ward 18, covering Limbayat, Parvat and Kumbhariya, and Ward 30, comprising Kansad, Sachin, Unn and Abhva, are jointly second with 24 candidates each.The higher numbers of candidates unline the intense political competition in several parts of Surat, especially in the southern and eastern zones. Ward 25, called Limbayat-Udhna Yard, it the top hotspot of electoral activity, reflecting strong interest from political parties and independents.Among the other wards with high candidate numbers, Wards 12, 13 and 20 each have 21 contestants, while Ward 24 had 20 and Ward 14 had 19. Ward 8 and Ward 19 registered 17 candidates each, while Wards 3 and 11 have 16 candidates.It should be noted that most of the wards with high numbers of candidates are areas with large populations of migrant workers involved in labour jobs. These areas also have higher minority populations than other parts."The number of candidates is high in wards where minority candidates from leading political parties are contesting. To divide minority votes, independents or candidates from not-so-popular political parties file nominations," said Aslam Cyclewala, the Congress candidate from Ward 19.At the lower end, Ward 21 has the fewest candidates with 10, followed by Ward 9 with 11. Several wards, including 4, 10, 16 and 22, have 12 candidates each.After the picture of candidates in the race got clear, political parties have intensified campaigning. In some wards, the equations have changed after the withdrawal of nominations by some important candidates.