Sceptical Ahmedabad residents doubt promises

In an area that is yet to see a corporator make a difference to their civic conditions, candidates for the upcoming municipal elections made a grand entry with a convoy of open jeeps, bikes and cars, on Wednesday. They were out campaigning for votes, with the help of a road show.

As the long line-up of vehicles slowly passed the area's bumpy and narrow lanes, residents stepped out into their balconies to see what it was that had disrupted their peace.

Three Congress candidates - Prakash Pandya, Narendra Chauhan and Jeeviben - waved their hands at the locals, presumably in anticipation of votes at the upcoming polls.

"We have been on a door-to-door campaign to meet people, so that we come to know what kind of problems they face. There are 981 societies and 39 chaalis (slums) in this area, and we have covered around 30% of them so far," claimed Chauhan.

However, going by the reactions of the residents after the convoy passed by, they were anything but convinced. "Why should we bother voting for any of them?" rued Halima Apa, a resident of Jenur Park society. "Every single corporator has failed to provide us with basic amenities."