Surat, April 14, 2025 – Textile industrialist and President of FOGWA, Ashok Jirawala, is set to be declared the new Vice President of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) unopposed. This follows the withdrawal of nomination forms by nearly all other candidates in favor of a consensus decision reached during a meeting of the chamber’s executive committee.
As per report, of the total 12 candidates who had filed their nominations, 11 have already withdrawn. Only former Congress corporator Nitin Bharucha, currently out of town, has yet to submit his withdrawal. However, in a telephonic conversation, Bharucha stated he is open to withdrawing his nomination in the interest of unity within the chamber.
During a meeting held on Monday evening, eight former presidents of SGCCI convened under the leadership of current President Vijay Mewawala and agreed to postpone the vice-presidential election. Mewawala informed all candidates of the proposal to unite behind Jirawala, urging them to withdraw their nominations.
Following this call for consensus, candidates Mrinal Shukla, Hardik Shah, Mitish Modi, Janak Pachigar, Bandana Bhattacharya, Shailesh Desai, Manish Kapadia, Sanjay Gandhi, Bharat Vanwala, and Neerav Mandalewala submitted their withdrawal forms to the chamber president, which are now being handed over to the election officer.
If Nitin Bharucha also formally withdraws upon returning to the city, the election scheduled for April 27 will stand cancelled, and Ashok Jirawala will be officially declared elected unopposed.
News of Jirawala’s likely appointment quickly spread among chamber members. His selection is being widely welcomed, particularly within the textile community, as he represents the interests of Surat’s weaving sector and currently heads FOGWA, a key trade union representing Surat’s textile hub.
