Surat - Sandeep Desai, BJP MLA from Chaurasi Assembly, has been elected as the Chairman of Surat Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), the largest in South Gujarat. Harshad Patel has been appointed as the Vice-Chairman. The elections for the positions were held on Thursday after 14 directors were elected unopposed.
Surat APMC, with an annual turnover exceeding 2,500 crore tonnes, had been embroiled in a long-standing dispute regarding its previous leadership. However, following the BJP's victory in the assembly elections, numerous changes have taken place in agricultural markets across Gujarat, including Surat APMC. The appointment of Desai, who is close to the state president and represents the Surat Chaurasi seat, has been well-received by the public.
The management committee elections for Surat APMC included 14 seats, with 10 seats won by farmers' unions and four by traders. In addition to these elected positions, there is a total of 19 seats, with one seat each for the Municipality, District Registrar, and Surat District Agriculturist.
Before the selection of the President and Vice President, Gujarat BJP State Vice President Janak Bagdanawala personally consulted all the directors. Sandeep Desai has now been appointed as President, and Harshad Bhai Jitubhai Patel will serve as Vice President.
