Amit Shah's man pips CM supporter to Ahmedabad mayor post

AHMEDABAD: BJP President Amit Shah's close associate Gautam Shah is likely to be the city's mayor with the party on Thursday recommending his name as the 'most probable' candidate for the post. The state BJP will announce the names of the mayor and the standing committee chairman officially on December 14.

Gautam, councilor from Naranpura ward of Ahmedabad, has been handling the political affairs of Naranpura assembly constituency in BJP chief's absence. As Naranpura assembly election-in-charge in 2012, Gautam had engineered the defection of a large number of local Congress workers to the BJP, thus helping Amit Shah win by a thumping majority.

Soon after the civic elections, there were reports of a serious tussle between supporters of Amit Shah and those of chief minister Anandiben Patel for mayor's post. With Gautam's selection, a clear message has been sent to the BJP rank and file.

"I have not been officially told of any appointment," said Gautam. "I am here to serve my party and people. Whatever the party tells me, I shall accept it," he added.

Gautam, who has a business in surgical instruments, is also a stockbroker and deals in LIC insurance policies as well. He even has an agency of a German company manufacturing disposable goods.

He had started off as a volunteer of the RSS in 1980 and joined Umesh Shukla of Jan Sangh who was then contesting the polls for the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) from the Naranpura ward. He soon started rising up the ranks.