The new system will empower the mayor with all the powers, that are currently vested with the municipal commissioner.

This could explain why former mayor Fakirbhai Chauhan, who has been recently appointed chairman of the Municipal Finance Board, is reportedly eager to quit the chairman's post, provided he becomes the mayor.

Chauhan is also reported to have offered to resign when he met Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel. He is also reported to have told the chief minister that he was interested in becoming the mayor. However, sources point out that the chief minister is unlikely to oblige, as it was his (CM's) decision to keep Chauhan out of the city.

The sources also claim that there has been a deliberate effort to cut the former mayor to size. Municipal Commissioner S Jagadeesan, who boasts of his proximity to the chief minister, is reported to be instrumental in side lining Chauhan in the Surat Municipal Corporation.

However, Chauhan's supporters have a different story to tell. Some councillors point out that Chauhan has been elevated to a higher level by taking charge as chairman of the board. They deny that Chauhan is upset.

``If that was true he had the choice to reject the offer,'' they argue.The city BJP president's post is also a hot topic these days. Sources say the new chief will be appointed after the new mayor is ``selected'' by the BJP high command. ``Ultimately it will be a package deal,'' says standing committee member Bakul Patel, elaborating a balancing act will be done and someone, agreeable to both the Hajurias and Khajurias, will be appointed.

Former standing committee chairman Ajay Choksi says the party cannot afford to hold elections for the post of BJP city president. It would lead to factionalism, he says, adding at present an ad hoc appointment is the best option available. ``Shankarsinh Vaghela's ghost still haunts the party, even though the party has been decimated,'' he admits.

According to former mayor Ajit Desai, the selection of the new mayor will have an impact on civic polls which will be held within two years. ``The fate of the party will depend on who holds the post when the party goes to polls,'' he observes.

The new mayor, Desai and Choksi feel, should be able to lead the party in civic polls and also be able to project the party. ``In the last three years there have been three mayors but none of them have been able to present themselves well,'' they say, adding former municipal commissioner S R Rao and even the present civic chief S Jagadeesan have earned more name than any mayor.

Present Mayor Navneet Jariwala is also said to be in the race. Other prominent names doing the rounds for the post are former mayor Ajit Desai, former standing committee chairmen Ajay Choksi and Narendra Gandhi and Savitaben Sharda.