Rajkot mayor faces backlash for using official vehicle for Mahakumbh trip

The mayor of the BJP-ruled Rajkot Municipal Corporation, Nayana Pedhadiya, took the official vehicle allotted to her by the corporation on a trip to the Mahakumbh.

The mayor travelled to Prayagraj from February 6 to 12 in her official vehicle, registration number GJ-3 GA 2020. She was accompanied by her husband Vinod Pedhadiya, BJP Mahila Morcha president Kiran Makadia, another corporator from her ward, Kankuben Ughrejiya, and four other women – a total of seven people. 

Pictures of clothes hanging to dry on the rear door of the SUV outside the Gujarat Pavilion in Prayagraj went viral on social media, sparking widespread discussions about the improper use of an official vehicle.

Payment of ₹2 per kilometre  

Responding to the controversy, Rajkot Standing Committee Chairman Jaymin Thaker said, “Office bearers, including the mayor, can take an official vehicle for personal travel with prior approval from the municipal commissioner. They must pay ₹2 per kilometre for travel outside Gujarat.”

“Nayanaben obtained approval from the commissioner, so there is nothing illegal about this. However, I acknowledge that drying clothes on an official car is inappropriate and should not happen,” Thaker added.

“Furthermore, any office bearer using an official vehicle should pay a rental amount equivalent to market rates. A resolution will be passed to address this in the future,” said Thaker.

Notably, the distance between Rajkot and Prayagraj is approximately 1,500 kilometres. Excluding the distance within Gujarat, the mayor travelled around 1,900 kilometres round-trip. At the rate of ₹2 per kilometre, she would pay only about ₹4,000, whereas a common citizen unable to secure a train or bus ticket would have to spend around ₹35,000–₹36,000 for an SUV rental.  

City BJP president Mukesh Doshi stated that a report on this matter would be sent to the state-level leadership after the municipal coordination meeting. He also mentioned that the last approved rate was ₹12 per kilometre, and if the current rate is true ₹2 per kilometre, it will be revised.