Surat municipal corporation defers announcement of civic engineers’ list

Surat: As expected, squabbles in the city unit of BJP led to the postponement of the announcement of the list of the selected candidates for the posts of executive engineers and town development officer in Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC).
The interviews for the nine posts were conducted during November 22, 23 and 24 in SMC by the Khadi samiti consisting of political leadership.
After the final interview for town development officer’s post was over on Thursday, mayor Raju Desai said, “We will announce the list of selected candidates at meeting on November 29. In the meantime we will study, compare and arrive at the best choice for the posts.”
However many cast aspersions over the selection process. A source within the BJP told TOI, “Interviews are over but now the wrangling for putting their own men will begin. In this process some names which figure in the list after interviews may be omitted and some which are not in the list will be added to satisfy certain lobbies within the party.”
A member from the coordination committee told TOI that they are trying to balance the situation meaning, qualification of the candidate becomes irrelevant but his political leanings will be relevant.
This is for the first time that such a decision of postponing the announcement of list of selected candidates is taken by BJP.
Till now, once the interviews were over list of successful ones was announced immediately.
Accusing ruling BJP of indecisiveness and in fighting Babu Rayka leader of opposition in SMC said, “The fight within the BJP has not allowed the list to be finalized. The factions within their party want their people appointed and so they have postponed the decision.”
In all, 66 candidates applied for the nine posts. Most candidates are employees of SMC on junior positions.