Interestingly, the opposition Congress leader, Mehul Patel, said he and other eight councillors had supported the newly elect president.

According to Panchmahals Resident District Collector, R K Rathod, the elections for the post of the president of the municipality were held peacefully.

He said 10 councillors had been expelled from the council under the anti-defection Act for local self government. “Six councillors were not present during the election, while 10 including Harwani had been suspended," he said. Moolchandani won by a simple majority, said Rathod.

On the other hand, Patel said he decided to support Moolchandani as C K Raulji, the present Congress legislator from Godhra, favoured Gangaram Harwani, the ousted president of the civic body.

"In an earlier election, Raulji had supported Harwani though I had opposed him. I will not support anybody who is with Raulji," said Patel.