Rajendra Desai is Surat’s new mayor

The suspense over key posts in Surat Municipal Corporation ended on Wednesday with ruling BJP declaring names of office-bearers.

The saffron party announced Rajendra Desai as mayor, Chahhyaben Bhuva as deputy mayor and Prafful Panseria as party convener. However, Mukesh Dalal's election as chairman of the standing committee and Dayashankar Singh's as the leader of the ruling party raised a few eyebrows.

A meeting between top party leaders and elected representatives was held at the BJP city office in the afternoon to finalise the names to key posts. During the meeting, party convener read out the names of all five persons before councillors. Everybody accepted the party decree without hesitation.

There was a direct fight between Rajendra alias Raju Desai and Bhimji Patel for mayor's post. But in the end, BJP showed confidence in Desai, a councillor from ward no. 23 (Athwa-Umra-Piplod)

After his election, Desai said that development of the city would be his first priority. He promised to push forward projects undertaken by outgoing mayor Ranjit Gilitwala.

The surprising name was that of Dayashankar Singh, who was declared the leader of ruling party. Singh was nowhere in the race, but the party leadership in Gandhinagar selected him for the post.