Tough contest ahead as 70 candidates fill forms in Surat for post of BJP president

The four leaders reached the party’s Kamalam office in Udhna area Saturday morning.

After all the forms were accepted, BJP leader Rakesh Shah while addressing the media persons at Kamalam office said, “A total of 70 candidates submitted their proposal forms for the post of the Surat City BJP president. In the evening, the observers will check the forms and will carry out coordination meetings regarding the names of the candidates. Later, the names will be shared with the state parliamentary board who will take the final decision.”

Surat vs Saurashtra

With the leaders submitting their forms for the post of Surat City unit president, a tough contest is being predicted among the contenders. One of the main contenders, present Surat City BJP president Niranjan Zanjmera, who was appointed to the post in November 2020, is seen as a close confidant of Union minister and state BJP chief C R Paatil, who reportedly wields considerable hold at his home pitch in Surat City.
Zanjmera is the only second leader in the city who has remained both Surat City Mayor and Surat City BJP president. Prior to him it was Fakirbhai Chauhan, who held both the posts.

“There is a tough fight among the party leaders belonging to Saurashtra and the ones from Surat,” said sources.

The Surat City Mayor Daxesh Mawani and Surat City BJP president Niranjan Zanjmera are both non Surat natives. “The local Surat residents, however, wish that this time the City BJP president should be a native,” said the sources . Surat has a huge number of migrants from Saurashtra who play an important part in its politics.

Apart from Zanjmera, the other top contenders in the race for Surat City BJP president post — who are non-Surat natives — include state BJP vice-president Janak Bagdana, former Mayor Dr Jagdish Patel, former Deputy Mayor Dinesh Jodhani, former general secretary Lalit Vekariya and Surat City BJP organisation leader Babu Jirawala among others.Those who have roots in Surat include former Deputy Mayor Nirav Shah (Jain), former SMC Standing Committee chairman Anil Goplani (Sindhi), former SMC Standing Committee chairman Paresh Patel (Patidar and a close confidant of C R Paatil), former mayor Hemali Boghawala (Modh Vanik) and corporator Keyur Chapatwala (Modh Vanik).

A BJP leader said, “This is for the first time that the party higher ups carried out such a process of selection. Earlier, the top leaders in consultation with other senior leaders used to announce the names. This process will definitely harm us in long run.”