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Journalism of Courage
SURAT, July 27: THE city will get its new mayor on Tuesday. The names of the new mayor, the deputy mayor and the leader of house will be announced at a meeting to be held at 4 pm tomorrow. Six new members of the Standing Committee will also be elected.
And with less than 24 hours left for the selection, the civic corridors were agog with speculations and rumours. Strangely, except for some senior civic officials, aspirants and reporters nobody really seemed much interested.
Outgoing Mayor Navneet Jariwala was seen apologising to senior councillors and a few reporters with folded hands, saying “Forgive me for my inadvertent mistakes.” He was also requesting a former mayor to deliver a speech highlighting his achievements at the meeting.
Former mayor Ajit Desai, former standing committee chairman Ajay Choksi and Snehlataben Chauhan — wife of outgoing leader of house Fakirbhai Chauhan, who is a probable candidate for the mayor’s post — appeared quite anxious, with excitement writ large on their faces.
A senior BJP leader is expected to reach Surat by 11 am with the mandate, an envelop carrying the names of the three. Last Thursday, the party had sent two observers to elicit councillors’ views on their choice of the candidates.
Though officially the three names will be announced at 4 pm, senior councillors will have a prior meeting in the mayor’s or standing committee chairman’s chamber, where they will be disclosed the names selected’ by the party high command.
If the leader arrives here early from Gandhinagar, party leaders and councillors may meet at the party office, a senior councillor told Express Newsline.
