VASNA councillor Amit Shah is the new mayor of Ahmedabad. Shah was chosen by the BJP as the 24th mayor of the city after a week of hectic lobbying by various groups in the party.
Shah, 46, who was the opposition leader in the AMC in the last general board, was chosen from among a few probables. The contenders for the top post included Dr Anil Patel from Navrangpura and Nitin Patel from Naranpura.
Soon after the BJP won the AMC polls on October 15, two camps— one led by Rajya Sabha MP and former AUDA chairman Surendra Patel, the other by Minister of State for Home Amit Shah — had started lobbying for their favourite candidates for the mayor’s post. But finally, minister Shah called the shots.
Incidentally, new mayor Amit Shah is a deputy accountant with Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank, where minister Amit Shah is the chairman.
After being appointed the mayor, Shah thanked the party and said that his priority would be to make Ahmedabad the ‘City No 1’. ‘‘The BJP manifesto is like Bhagwat Geeta for me. I will ensure that the Amdavadis are protected by strong governance and are provided all facilities promised by their councillors,’’ said Shah.
He had been appointed as the BJP city president a few days before the AMC polls. Shah was AMC opposition leader in 2000-2005, during which he had gained popularity as a strategist in the party.
Shah started his political career as a student leader in 1983.
Sources state that Surendra Patel, considered as the king maker over the years, was left out in the cold as he was lobbying for Dr Anil Patel. When Surendra Patel was the steering committee chairman in 1995-2000, he had selected his protege Maliniben Ateet for the mayor’s post.
‘‘I am happy with the party’s decision,’’ said Surendra Patel on Sunday. Shah’s appointment was made based on the unanimous decision taken by the BJP’s State party president and members of the general board.
On Sunday, other important appointments were also made. Dinesh Makwana, councillor from Saijpur Bogha, was appointed the deputy mayor.
While Madhuben Patel was appointed chairman of the AMC standing committee, Asit Vora was appointed chairman of AMTS.
Later, BJP workers celebrated Shah’s appointment as the new mayor by coming out on the streets. They stated that the BJP had been successful in ousting the ‘‘Begum and Badshah raj’’ of the Congress.