BJP observers for mayoral polls bring forward visit

SURAT, July 22: State BJP vice-president Nalin Bhatt and State secretary Thakore Desai are arriving here on Thursday morning as observers...

SURAT, July 22: State BJP vice-president Nalin Bhatt and State secretary Thakore Desai are arriving here on Thursday morning as observers to get the councillors8217; views on the Surat Municipal Corporation8217;s mayoral elections scheduled to be held on July 28.

Incidentally, the city unit of the BJP was expecting the observers to arrive on Saturday. Till Tuesday evening, even the party councillors were clueless that the visit had been brought forward. City unit secretary Kanubhai Joshi received a faxed message informing him about the change in plans this afternoon.

Though just five days are left for the election of the first citizen, there is little excitement in the SMC. Not becase Mayor Navneet Jariwala, Deputy Mayor Kishor Lakhani, Standing Committee chairman Natu Soma Patel and leader of house Fakirbhai Chauhan were out of station, but because the implementation of the Mayor-in-Council 8212; probably within a couple of months 8212; will reduce the new mayor into a stop-gap arrangement.

The observers will meet the councillors of ward no 1 to 10 between 10 am and noon on Thursday, while councillors of ward no 11 to 30 will be heard between 6 pm and 8.30 pm at the BJP office. Woman councillors will get to meet the observers between 2 pm and 5 pm to air their views on the candidates for mayor 8212; reserved for a woman this year under the rotational system 8212; deputy mayor and the leader of the house.

Though few expect the mayor to complete her full term, this has not dampened the enthusiasm of Snehlataben Chauhan, one of the candidates for the mayoral post. The other councillor in the race is Savitaben Sharda. Predictably, the councillors are divided into the two camps, Hajuria and Khajuria, over the mayoral elections as well. While the Hajuria camp is supporting Sharda, Chauhan, the seniormost councillor is backed by the Khajurias.

Party insiders say if Sharda is elected, the post of Standing Committee chairman would go to a Khajuria. In that case, the present standing committee cannot expect to retain his seat. Patel is said to be too eager to retain his seat till the MIC is introduced.Lakhani is likely to retain the post of deputy mayor, as he represents the 25-strong Saurashtrian lobby in the SMC. For the past few years, the post of deputy mayor has invariably gone to a Saurashtrian. For the post of leader of house, the names of three councillors former mayor Ajit Desai, former standing committee chairmen Ajay Choksi and Narendra Gandhi are doing the rounds.