Ahmedabad: Amdavadis handed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) its fifth consecutive victory in the city's municipal corporation election on Tuesday. The party swept 160 of 192 seats across 48 wards, matching its tally from the 2021 election. Two of those seats, in the Thaltej and Vasna wards, required no contest at all.
Congress Gains Eight Seats, AIMIM Loses All
The Congress party, which fielded candidates in all 192 seats before five withdrew, won 32 seats — a modest improvement from 24 in 2021. In the 2021 AMC election, BJP candidates won 160 of the 192 seats. In that election, a woman candidate was declared the uncontested winner in the Naranpura ward. Congress won 24 seats and the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) won seven. An independent candidate won one seat in the Lambha ward.
Compared to 2021, BJP neither gained nor lost any seats in the 2026 election. However, Congress gained eight seats. In the 2021 election, AIMIM candidates won four seats in the Jamalpur ward and three in the Makhtampura ward, which were considered Congress strongholds. Congress reclaimed these seven seats this time.
West and East Ahmedabad Trends
Western Ahmedabad has 18 wards with 72 seats, while the eastern area has 30 wards with 120 seats. In the 2021 election, BJP won 67 out of 72 seats in the west, Congress won two, and AIMIM won three. In the 2026 election, BJP won 68 out of 72 seats in the west, gaining one seat. Congress won four seats in the west, gaining two seats compared to 2021. AIMIM lost all three seats it won in the west in 2021.
In the 2021 election, BJP won 93 of the 120 seats in the east, while AIMIM won four, and an independent candidate took one seat. Congress won 22 seats in the east. In the 2026 election, BJP won 92 seats, losing one. Congress won 28 seats, gaining six. AIMIM lost four seats, and the independent candidate lost as well.
Historical Context
BJP has won the AMC election in 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2021. Congress last held power in the corporation 25 years ago after the 2000 election. When delimitation was completed in 2007, political dynamics in the AMC changed. Seven municipalities and 30 village panchayats, including Chandkheda, Ranip, Kaligam, Thaltej, Sarkhej, Bodakdev, Vejalpur, and Jodhpur, were merged into the AMC, expanding the western area of Ahmedabad. In 2021, areas including the Bopal-Ghuma municipality were added to the city limits.
Since the expansion in 2007, BJP's dominance in both the western and eastern areas increased, while Congress's influence diminished. Notably, BJP panels won 17 of 18 wards in the west and 20 of 30 wards in the east. Congress won only one ward in the west and seven in the east. In three wards, BJP and Congress panels were split. In the Kubernagar ward, Congress won two seats and BJP won two. In the Saraspur-Rakhial ward, Congress won one seat and BJP won three. In Bapunagar, Congress won one seat and BJP won three.
Focus Now on Mayor, Standing Committee
After BJP's victory, discussions have begun on who will become the mayor or the chairperson of the standing committee. Names being discussed as the mayoral candidate include Hitesh Barot, former standing committee chairman from Thaltej; Dharamshi Desai, former AMTS chairman from Bodakdev; and Jashubhai Thakor from Shahibaug. Paresh Patel, former corporator from Vastral; Devang Dani from Bodakdev; Kenat Patel from Gota; and Pravin Patel from Ghatlodia are among those being considered for the standing committee.
Three Women Win in Kubernagar Again
Of the 192 seats in the 48 wards of the AMC, 96 seats are reserved for women. In the 2021 election, a woman candidate won an unreserved seat as well. In the Kubernagar ward, three women won in 2021, and the pattern repeated in the 2026 election. Once again, 97 women candidates have won. In Kubernagar, Congress's Kamini Zha and Kalpana Kodekar won, while BJP's Aarti Patni emerged victorious.
15-Year Streak Ends: No Independent Wins
No independent candidate won a seat in this election, breaking a 15-year streak of independent victories in AMC elections. In the 2010 election, Kalu Bharwad won from Lambha. In 2015, Imran Khedawala won from Jamalpur. In 2021, Kalu Bharwad retook Lambha.
