The mayor's post in the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has been reserved for a councillor from the Scheduled Castes (SC). This development gives the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) five councillors to choose from for the position.
The BJP secured 69 seats in the VMC elections, including five SC-reserved seats. Among these, three are held by men and two by women, elected from different wards across the city. The eligible councillors are Samir Vaghela from Ward 12, Ajay Dabhi from Ward 8, Chetan Parmar from Ward 18, Meena Parmar from Ward 17, and Geeta Makwana from Ward 13.
Term Reservation Details
According to sources, the first mayoral term of 2.5 years is reserved for an SC councillor without any gender specification. The second term of 2.5 years will be reserved for a woman councillor from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. Given this arrangement, the party is likely to opt for a male SC councillor as mayor for the first term.
Sources added that a woman councillor may be accommodated in another key position, such as deputy mayor or chairperson of the standing committee. The BJP is expected to hold consultations with party members regarding appointments within a week. The final decision will be taken by the party's state unit and parliamentary board.
Next Steps
Consultations among party members are anticipated soon, with the final decision resting with the state leadership and parliamentary board. The selection process is expected to conclude within a week.
