Polling for the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) elections witnessed early disruptions on Sunday after reports of EVM malfunctions and sudden polling booth changes created confusion among voters in several parts of the city, casting a shadow over the high-stakes civic election.

The most serious complaint came from the Vasna area, where voting was temporarily halted at a polling booth after allegations surfaced that the Electronic Voting Machine was not registering votes for a party symbol. The issue triggered protests from local candidates and party workers, forcing officials to inspect the machine before polling resumed.

Fresh controversy also erupted in Khokhra-Mehmedabad ward, where opposition leaders alleged that polling booth locations were changed without proper public notice, leaving many voters confused about where to cast their ballots. The unexpected shift reportedly led to delays and inconvenience for residents who arrived at their designated centres only to discover that booths had been moved.

Despite the glitches, election officials continued to oversee polling operations across the city. Election Observer Avantika Singh Aulakh visited multiple polling stations to review arrangements and ensure voting proceeded smoothly.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leaders including Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and state BJP chief Jagdish Vishwakarma cast their votes and appealed to citizens to participate in large numbers.

With over 38 lakh voters eligible to vote and 652 candidates in the fray, the AMC elections are being closely watched as the ruling BJP seeks to retain control of the civic body.