After a prolonged legal battle, BJP councillor Rita Patel took charge as the mayor of Gandhinagar on Monday.
The development came five days after the high court disposed a petition filed by Congress councillor from Gandhinagar Shailendrasinh Bihola seeking disqualification of former mayor Pravin Patel on the ground that he defected from Congress to BJP just to become the mayor. The order also indirectly nullified the order of single judge bench directing authorities not to declare the results of the election.
Rita Patel took over as mayor amid opposition by Congress councillors, who argued that the court had not cleared the path for her to do so. However, she told reporters that she had taken charge as mayor in line with the high court's order.
Rita Patel, who became the first person elected on the BJP symbol to become the Gandhinagar mayor, said that the Capital's development would be her priority.
Along with her, Naza Gangar took charge as deputy mayor of Gandhinagar.