Ahmedabad civic polls see national issues overshadow local concerns

Local issues appear to have taken a back seat in the ongoing Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) elections, with campaign narratives largely driven by broader national themes rather than ward-level concerns.

Municipal polls are typically contested on local governance and civic performance. This time, however, despite visible ground-level problems across the city, candidates from major parties are seen focusing on wider political messaging. Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have highlighted development, but are reported to have offered limited specifics on work undertaken at the ward level. The Congress, meanwhile, is said to have centred its campaign on national issues, a strategy that observers suggest has eased the contest for BJP candidates.

Issues such as the Women’s Reservation Bill and the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) have reportedly featured in campaign discourse, even as local civic concerns remain largely unaddressed.

Limited focus on ward-level performance

Elections are being held for 182 seats across multiple wards, with more than 150 candidates in the fray. Reports indicate that Congress, despite being in opposition in the civic body for nearly two decades, has not consistently foregrounded local governance issues in its campaign.

At the same time, BJP candidates have also faced criticism for not clearly outlining their achievements in individual wards over the past five years, raising questions about accountability at the municipal level.

Controversies during campaign

The campaign period has also seen its share of controversies. In the Asarwa ward, photographs purportedly showing BJP candidates alongside alleged criminals and bootleggers circulated on social media, triggering criticism. The reported presence of senior leaders, including ministers and MLAs, at such events has further drawn scrutiny.

In Odhav, public discontent surfaced during a campaign event where residents protested against BJP leaders, raising slogans and displaying banners. According to reports, leaders had to leave the venue midway following the backlash.

Key civic issues overlooked

Several pressing civic concerns across Ahmedabad are reported to have received limited attention during the campaign. These include:

Rising air pollution

Pending infrastructure projects

Illegal constructions in parts of the old city

Poor road conditions and ongoing excavation work

Allegations of corruption in civic projects

Encroachment on public roads

Delays in projects such as the Hatkeshwar bridge

Reports of contaminated drinking water supply

Waterlogging during the monsoon

Alleged corruption across municipal departments

Narrative shifts away from local governance

Despite a range of unresolved urban challenges, the overall election narrative appears to have shifted away from local governance and service delivery. The emphasis on national-level issues by both major parties has, according to observers, diluted the focus on immediate civic concerns that directly affect residents’ daily lives.