Chiefs of urban dev bodies named

AHMEDABAD, June 8: Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel has announced the names of BJP leaders who will head the six big urban development authorities in the state. Even a cursory glance at the list reveals that loyalty to the party and Patel has been rewarded, not necessarily in that order.

Party treasurer Surendra Patel will head the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) for the second time. He is also the steering committee chairman in the municipal corporation. Considered to be an upright party worker, Patel had been exceptionally successful in his past tenure too when he had matched municipal commissioner Keshav Varma’s pace of work.

Like Patel, Krishnakant B. Shah gets a second tenure with the Vadodara Urban Development Authority. Shah is generally considered a moderate, and expected to gel well with the administration there. Arvind Godiwala, who has been made the Surat development authority boss, has for long been identified with Keshubhai Patel. An intelligent fence sitter, he has at the right times backed Patel. He has also backed the present Surat municipal commissioner S.

Jagadeesan when the Kashiram Rana group has demanded his removal. He is also expected to get along with the commissioner. Jayantibhai Dave has been rewarded with the Bhavnagar office.