Five Candidates Declare Licensed Firearms in Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Election
In a notable disclosure for the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) election, five candidates have officially stated in their election affidavits that they possess licenses for firearms, including guns, pistols, and revolvers. These individuals are contesting from key wards across the city, specifically Ghatlodia, Gota, Vejalpur, and Thaltej, bringing attention to the legal ownership of weapons among political aspirants.
BJP Nominees with Licensed Weapons
The candidates include BJP nominees Hitesh Barot from Thaltej, Pravin Ambalal Patel from Ghatlodia, Ketan Kumar Patel from Gota, and Devang Mehta and Rajesh Thakor from Vejalpur. All have reported owning weapons along with valid licenses, ensuring compliance with legal standards. Notably, BJP candidate Rajesh Thakor from Vejalpur has declared ownership of both a revolver and a 12-bore gun, highlighting a diverse arsenal among the contenders.
Detailed Profiles and Weapon Valuations
In the 2021 election, Hitesh Barot contested from Thaltej ward as a BJP candidate for the first time and secured a decisive 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 license, 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, underscoring his preparedness for security concerns.
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, reflecting a consistent pattern of firearm ownership among these politicians.
Additional Candidates and Election Context
Former corporator Ketan Kumar Patel has disclosed owning a revolver valued at Rs 95,000, while Devang Mehta, another BJP candidate, has declared owning a pistol worth Rs 2.10 lakh, making it the highest-valued weapon among the disclosures. In the broader context of the 2026 AMC election, a total of 1,553 nomination forms were filed across 48 wards of the city. The final number of candidates contesting in each ward will be clarified on Tuesday, setting the stage for a competitive electoral process.
This revelation of licensed firearms among candidates adds a unique dimension to the election discourse, emphasizing legal compliance and personal security measures in the political landscape of Ahmedabad.
