Nileshsinh Rathod: ‘Any BJP worker can meet a top leader… no clash between leaders’

There was no rivalry between us… Our wards were originally different… He (Limbachiya) belongs to the reserved category (OBC) while I come from the General category. We never had a political fight. He contested from the same ward as me in the last elections (2021) because there was one reserved seat for OBC in my ward…If I became a mayor after Keyur Rokadia resigned, he was already the ruling party leader in VMC. I don’t know if it was the reason for his insecurity… We got whatever the fate had in store for us. Only God knows what went on in his mind to be involved (in the act).

The incident keft the party embarrassed. There was a similar incident in Surat too…

The BJP is not just a party… it is a family. When people stay together, they do have differences over minor issues… there can be misunderstandings. But over time, it gets resolved.

The party has suspended Limbachiya and he was arrested in a defamation case. Do you still see a possibility of a resolution?

It has been proven that our party (BJP) has the best system in place — any worker can meet any top leader at any time. We even have access to the party president, and he returns calls. If someone comes to me with a problem and if I feel I should tell someone senior to get it resolved, I can do that without hesitation. This system is keeps the party united. There is no clash between leaders…

Which projects were you able to focus on as mayor?

Due to the paucity of time, I could not take up elaborate projects, but ensured that I expedited whatever works were in progress. We got the CM (Bhupendra Patel) to inaugurate development projects worth Rs 300 crore. Proposals for projects worth Rs 150 crore under the Swarnim Grant are in process… We have awarded works worth Rs 100 crore in outgrowth areas where our main priority is to plan water and drainage works. We have to upgrade the STPs (sewage treatment plants) in areas where drains have an outlet, as they outgrow their capacity; storm water drains in these areas are also being planned.

Also, to ease traffic, we undertook the shrinking of traffic circles at Sussen-Tarsali Road, Alembic Road as well as the L&T Circle and Baroda Dairy, among others.

We have begun tendering for seven upcoming bridges that will ease traffic movement and uplift the cityscape too. Do you think two-and-a-half years for a mayor is too short?

Initially, the mayoral term was only one year and a city would have five mayors in its five-year election cycle. It was subsequently increased to two-and-a-half years for two mayors. I think it is enough to initiate new projects or continue with development works.

Your thoughts on BJP chief C R Paatil extending the ‘no-repeat policy’ to civic and other local bodies.

In the BJP, policies are framed by the party. So, Paatil saheb saying so reflects the party’s stand. The party has already decided to allow new leaders to gain experience in administration and also get a chance to serve at top posts. I fully support the party’s decision.

The BJP has been in power in the VMC for at least two decades now, but it has been superseded by cities like Surat and Ahmedabad in terms of development. Why?

I think Ahmedabad was always developed due to its proximity to the capital. But yes, we have lagged behind when compared to Surat. The reason is that Vadodara has not received approvals for as many town planning schemes as it should have. Secondly, despite being rich in culture, heritage, arts, architecture and administrative set-up, over the years, the city has not been able to come to a common ground to blend its strengths.

‘Team Vadodara’ is a concept envisaged by our senior leader Balkrishna Shukla, who has been a former city mayor too. The idea is to invite public participation and bring intellectuals and experts on one platform to discuss and chalk out common goals.

Why has VMC not been able to resolve stray cattle menace?

We have only just received the guidelines from the state this month. We are now studying the common procedure that is to be adopted in all civic bodies. The work will be discussed in the general board and approved.
Once the new cattle policy is ready, we will take the cattle owners into confidence… We will have to rehabilitate cattle pounds outside the city areas, otherwise, this problem will not be solved… We will counsel cattle owners that the new law has penal provisions if they do not cooperate.