BJP yet to finalise mayors, civic office-bearers three weeks after Gujarat local body poll results

More than three weeks after the declaration of results for Gujarat’s local self-government elections, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is yet to announce the names of mayors, deputy mayors and standing committee chairpersons for several municipalities and municipal corporations across the state.

Party sources said internal deliberations and factional differences within the BJP had delayed the selection of key office-bearers for major civic bodies in Ahmedabad and Surat.

As per sources, discussions over appointments were initially held at the residence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar following the BJP’s strong performance in the civic elections.

However, the process reportedly slowed down due to the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Gujarat and ongoing differences among party groups over key posts.

Sources claimed that political camps aligned with senior BJP leaders, including the Rupala group in the Saurashtra region and the Patil group in Surat, had become active in lobbying for influential civic positions such as mayor and standing committee chairman.

The internal tussle within the party is believed to have delayed the official announcement of office-bearers.

Meanwhile, BJP spokespersons maintained that the party had completed its internal exercise for selecting civic office-bearers in municipalities and municipal corporations.

Sources further indicated that discussions regarding the appointments were also held with Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his recent two-day visit to Ahmedabad.

Party leaders said the final list of office-bearers had largely been finalised and that official announcements regarding mayors, deputy mayors and standing committee chairpersons could be made any time after May 22.