Gandhinagar Civic Polls: BJP Faces Prestige Battle as 278 Candidates Contest 105 Seats

Voting will decide the fate of 278 candidates contesting 105 seats across Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation and two municipalities, alongside several by-elections in Gujarat.

The Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation election has emerged as a prestige battle for the BJP, which is seeking to retain power, while the Congress is fighting to regain its political footing in the state capital.

Polling will take place from 7 am to 6 pm, with voters deciding the outcome of contests across municipal wards and local bodies.

Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation: BJP Aims to Retain Control

A total of 130 candidates are contesting 44 seats across 11 wards in the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation. The election is being closely watched as a test of the BJP's hold over the capital and the Congress's ability to rebuild its support base.

Around 1.32 lakh male voters and 1.27 lakh female voters are eligible to cast their ballots.

In the 2021 civic elections, the BJP secured 41 of the 44 seats, while the Congress won two. One seat was allotted to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The BJP received 46.49% of the votes in 2021, compared with 28.02% for the Congress and 21.77% for AAP. The figures underline the challenge facing the opposition as it attempts to make gains in the latest contest.

Okha Municipality and Other Local Body Elections

Alongside Gandhinagar, elections are being held for 32 seats in Okha Municipality, where 75 candidates are in the fray.

By-elections are also scheduled for individual seats in Kheralu Municipality, Chhota Udepur Municipality, Bayad Municipality, Devbhoomi Dwarka District Panchayat and Paddhari Taluka Panchayat.

These contests will determine the outcome of several local-level political battles across Gujarat.

Ahmedabad Civic Task Force to Inspect Schools, Hospitals for Stray Dogs

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) will intensify inspections at schools, colleges, hospitals, health centres, bus stands, railway stations, metro stations, airports and sports complexes to identify the presence of stray dogs.

The civic body will also take action against institutions where food waste and garbage are left unattended, potentially attracting stray dogs.

The inspections follow Supreme Court directions concerning the removal of stray dogs from places with heavy public movement and their relocation to designated shelters.

Three Employees to Be Assigned to Inspection Teams

The municipal administration will assign three employees to the task of identifying stray dogs at the designated premises. Institutions will be required to keep entrances closed and maintain compound walls to prevent dogs from entering their grounds.

Any gaps in boundary walls that allow dogs to enter must be sealed promptly. The AMC will also take action over obstructions and accumulated waste that could attract stray animals.

The task force will record inspection details on an online mobile application, including the number of premises checked each week, the number of dogs found and whether the animals have been vaccinated and sterilised.

According to Naresh Rajput, head of the AMC's Cattle Nuisance Control Department (CNCD), officials have so far inspected around 1,150 institutions and locations across Ahmedabad for the presence of stray dogs.