Surat School Site Shift Sparks Political Unity in Opposition
In an unusual show of unity, councillors from both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party in Surat are standing together against a recent decision to change the construction site of a government school. The controversy centers on Suman High School, originally planned for Katargam in Ward No. 7, which officials have now moved to Ved Road in Ward No. 8.
Joint Opposition from Ward No. 7 Councillors
All four corporators representing Ward No. 7 in the Surat Municipal Corporation have voiced strong objections to the site change. The ward's two BJP councillors, Narendra Pandav and Dipti Sakariya, along with two AAP councillors, Dr. Kishor Rupareliya and Jyotiben Patel, are working together to challenge the relocation.
Their opposition follows a request from BJP's Katargam MLA Veenu Moradiya, who asked officials to shift the school construction. Moradiya suggested that more students from lower-income and middle-class backgrounds would benefit from a Ved Road location.
Protests and Representations Escalate
The situation intensified on Thursday when AAP corporators began a dharna at the SMC headquarters. They demanded that construction return to the originally proposed site. Leader of Opposition Payal Sakariya led AAP representatives in making formal appeals to standing committee chairman Rajan Patel.
BJP councillors Narendra Pandav and Dipti Sakariya have also been active in their opposition. They made representations to Surat Mayor Daxesh Mavani and later to SMC commissioner Shalini Agrawal, requesting an immediate halt to construction at the new site.
Questions About Approval Process
Narendra Pandav raised serious concerns about the approval process for the new location. "I have checked with SMC records," he told The Indian Express, "and learned there was no record or permission taken for the school construction in Ward No. 8. No proposal has come before the standing committee or general board meeting for approval."
Pandav emphasized their demand clearly: "We requested that ongoing construction at the new site should stop immediately. The school should be built in Ward No. 7 as originally planned."
Historical Context of the Project
The school project has a significant history in Surat's municipal affairs:
- Two years ago, BJP corporators from Ward No. 7 submitted a proposal specifically to help students from middle- and low-income backgrounds
- The proposal received approval through SMC's standing committee and general board meetings
- In July 2025, the contract was approved through a proper tender process
- On August 6, 2025, the work order was officially allotted to a construction firm
- Former state BJP president and Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil laid the foundation stone at the Katargam site on September 17, 2025
The situation changed dramatically on October 7, 2025, when MLA Veenu Moradiya wrote to Commissioner Shalini Agrawal requesting the site change from Katargam to Ved Road.
Continued Protests and Political Implications
AAP corporator Kishor Rupareliya explained their protest strategy: "We have sat on dharna outside the standing committee chairman's office. We will continue until Friday afternoon when the standing committee meeting is scheduled. If our demands remain unmet, we will extend our dharna."
Despite repeated attempts by The Indian Express to contact MLA Veenu Moradiya for comment, he did not respond to calls. This silence has added to the controversy surrounding the decision.
The unusual alliance between BJP and AAP councillors highlights how local issues can sometimes transcend party lines in municipal politics. Both parties are putting ward representation and procedural concerns above partisan politics in this case.
As the standing committee prepares for its Friday meeting, all eyes are on whether municipal officials will address the councillors' concerns or proceed with construction at the contested Ved Road site.
