The bandh was deferred after Mayor Navneet Jariwala fixed a Monday morning meeting between trade representatives and State Energy Minister Kaushik Patel in Gandhinagar.

The SGCCI and the Surat Citizens' Council, which have been spearheading the demand, seek to be supplied electricity at the Gujarat Electricity Board rates.

The chamber and the council have also asked the state government to direct the SEC not to disconnect power supply for non-payment of bills for June. Earlier, they had given a call to SEC consumers not to pay electricity bills.

In view of the meeting, SGCCI president and Council Chairman I J Desai announced postponement of the bandh ``till further announcement.'' Earlier, in the morning, trade and industry representatives under the leadership of Chokhawala and Desai submitted a memorandum to city BJP president Arvind Godiwala and MLAs.

Godiwala had to face the wrath of agitating members, when he failed to make a categorical statement supporting their demand. However, after sensing the mood of the representatives, he was apparently compelled to say, ``I am with you''.

Surat East MLA Gulab Das Khasi also assured SGCCI president and Council chairman of his support and said he would take up the matter with the chief minister.