Makwana Named Mayor, Vyas Standing Committee Chief
Vadodara: In a first in the history of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC), the BJP on Thursday appointed women leaders to the two most prominent posts in the civic body — mayor and chairman of the standing committee.BJP councillor Geeta Makwana from ward 13 was elected the mayor, while Varsha Vyas from ward . 2 was named the chairperson of the standing committee during the first general board meeting of the newly elected corporation.The party also named Shweta Macchi from ward 4 as its leader in the civic body. Aditya Patel from ward 7 was appointed deputy mayor, while Vijay Chauhan from ward 16 was named party whip.The BJP enjoys an overwhelming majority in the 76-member corporation, holding 69 seats.The appointments are being seen as a significant political message by the BJP, signalling greater representation of women in urban local governance. While the VMC has had women mayors in the past — including Bharati Vyas, Jyoti Pandya and Pinky Soni — Geeta Makwana becomes only the fourth woman to hold the post.Varsha Vyas, meanwhile, is only the second woman to head the standing committee, after Dr Jigisha Sheth, who later became mayor.The 12-member standing committee constituted on Thursday includes Varsha Vyas, Manoj Shah, Bhupendra Machhi, Paresh Brahmbhatt, Bhanji Patel, Bhursinh Rathva, Rita Acharya, Narvirsinh Chudasama, Nitin Donga, Rita Singh, Nimisha Panchal and Dipika Patni.Interestingly, the BJP’s decision also went against political speculation within party circles. The mayor’s post for the first 2.5-year term was reserved for a Scheduled Caste (SC) corporator, and party insiders had indicated that the BJP was likely to pick a male councillor, as the second half of the term is reserved for an OBC woman corporator. However, the party eventually chose Geeta Makwana.Mayor’s humble backgroundMakwana’s elevation to the city’s top elected civic office has also drawn attention because of her modest background. Her family lives in the Bakrawadi area of the city, and her husband, Umesh Makwana, runs a small tin-shade kiosk selling toffees outside their home. BJP workers said Umesh Makwana has remained active in the party at the grassroots level for years and has served as a booth manager.
