Race for VMC oppn leader's post to get murkier

VADODARA: There seems to be no respite for the Congress leaders, who managed to win in the recently held civic polls in the city. Within days of holding victory marches in their areas, the Congress councillors have now got into lobbying mode for the post of opposition leader in Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC). Some of the heavyweight candidates are pulling all the strings to bag the post of opposition leader.
And, selecting the opposition leader would be a major headache for the Congress party too as most of the candidates are senior leaders. While the election commission is yet to officially declare VMC's new general board, many of the victorious Congress candidates have started reaching out to Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) leaders. "Lobbying for the post of opposition leader has already begun in our party. Most of the winners are senior leaders and have good hold over the voters. So, most victorious Congress candidates feel that they are fit to become opposition leader," said a senior Congress leader.
While Chirag Zaveri, who was holding opposition leader's post in the last VMC board, is in fray, Chinnam Gandhi from ward 25 and Nandkishor Pardesi from ward 18 too are being considered as top contenders for the post. Both Gandhi and Pardesi are veteran Congress leaders and have proved their mettle by winning convincingly. Another Congressman Chandrakant Srivastava nee Bhathhu too is vying for the post that he failed to bag in 2005-2010 board.
"Srivastava was very upset and had created a scene in 2005 when Zaveri was given opposition leader's post. He was promised that he would be given the post for two-and-half years. But Zaveri remained opposition leader for all five years. Srivastava is eyeing to bag the post this time around," sources in Congress party said. When asked, Srivastava refused that he was lobbying for opposition leader's post. However, he gave hints of his intentions by saying that he has always won the civic polls by huge margins and that the party should choose a strong leader.
Sources in the party said that first time winner like Minal Gohil too wants to become opposition leader along with Pushpa Waghela. "It is possible that all 11 Congress winners may stake claim for the post," quipped another Congress leader. City Congress general secretary Shailesh Amin said, "The party has not yet begun the formal process of selecting VMC opposition leader. The final decision will be taken after consulting all the winning candidates."