SEC announces delimitation of AMC wards

In its order dated August 17, 2015, the Commission has clarified the civic election would be held on the basis of 2011 census.

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Because of disappearance of 18 wards in the new order, several sitting councillors would lose their present seats. They include former mayor Kanaji Thakor (Madhupura), Standing Committee chairman Pravin Patel, Krushnavadan ‘Koko’ Brahmbhatt (Kalupur) — all BJP. In Congress, Surendra Baxi (Kalupur), Atiya Shaikh (Raikhad), Liyaqat Ghori (Raikhad), Amjad Khan (Rajpur) and Taufiq Khan (Rakhial) are set to lose their seats.

AMC opposition leader Badruddin Shaikh objected to the Commission going allegedly out of way to implement BJP’s suggestions on delimitation of AMC wards. He said the SEC ignored its objections and suggested modifications.

“Instead of doing an objective and impartial job of preparing a delimitation and reservation exercise, the SEC has carried out delimitation and reservation of wards in a way politically beneficial to the ruling BJP with a malicious intention of the state government,” Shaikh alleged.

BJP AMC leader Vanrajsinh Jhala did not offer any comment.

Standing Committee chairman Pravin Patel said that due to compulsory voting being introduced this time, “The number of booth has been increased from 750 to 1,000 this time to facilitate better voting environment.”

About Congress’s allegation of delimitation favouring BJP, Patel made a counter-allegation that in its time Congress “had done favourable delimitation in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the past”.’

While the draft of delimitation was out on May 28, 2015, the final announcement was made on August 19.

The average population of a civic ward in AMC has been taken as 1.56 lakh with total population being 55,77,940 as against the 1.10 in 2010.

As per 2010 civic election, 39 corporators are currently representing Congress and 151 BJP, while two as Independents and one on Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ticket. The BJP polled 54.55 per cent votes and the Congress polled 33.73 per cent of votes.