Indian Express 14.10.2010
Day after, race begins for top VMC posts
Express News Service Tags : Vadodara Municipal Corporation, ahmedabad Posted: Thu Oct 14 2010, 04:52 hrs
Vadodara: Poonam Panchal, Mamta Kale front-runners for mayor’s post; Shabdasharan Brahmbhatt, Bharat Shah for standing committee chiefA day after making a clean sweep in the state civic polls, the BJP has started collecting bio-data of victorious candidates to select the new mayor and Standing Committee chairman of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC).
While top BJP leaders said it was too early to think on the matter, sources in the party revealed that the process to identify the suitable candidates has already started. They added that a list of at least three candidates for both the posts would be shortlisted and the final selection would be done in Gandhinagar in the presence of Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
“I have no idea about the selection of the candidates as I have taken a break after our jubilant victory. But as a matter of fact, those who are suppose to work on issue are already on the job,” said Vadodara BJP president Bharat Dangar.
According to sources, considering that the first term of the mayoral candidate would be reserved for a woman candidate, those having a good track record in education as well as on the political front will be given preference.
“There are six to seven woman candidates who would be discussed for the post of mayor. Deputy Mayor Poonam Panchal and former Deputy Mayor Mamta Kale are the front-runners,” said a senior BJP leader.
The task of choosing standing committee chairman would be more crucial as incumbent chairman Dinesh Choksi lost the polls from ward number 10, which was considered to be his bastion.
“Considering the kind of experience and ability needed to keep both the political and administrative wings in balance, it is necessary to pick a candidate who is well versed with the functioning of the civic body and equal capability on the political front,” said a BJP leader who had earlier held a top position in the VMC.
The leader added, “Among the present lot of elected councillors, Shabdasharan Brahmbhatt, a seasoned BJP member having an experience of handling nitty-gritty of civic issues, and Bharat Shah, a comparatively calm person from ward number one, might take up the job.”
