While Thursday's standing committee meeting could not be held in the absence of a majority, according to standing committee member Bakul Patel, the meeting, now scheduled to be held on Tuesday, was also uncertain and could be postponed again.

The ``exodus'' has drawn flak from Congress councillor Bhupendra Solanki, who said the standing committee members had behaved in a highly irresponsible manner and owed an explanation to the people of the city, as they had elected them.

Agreed Independent councillor Prakash Desai. He said the BJP has made the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat a prestige issue at the cost of the city. ``And this is likely to boomerang,'' he warned.

A senior BJP leader, on condition of anonymity, told Express Newsline that local BJP units in Bharuch and Ankleshwar were reportedly not in favour of the party's official candidate, as there was a strong resentment among the local people against the Keshubhai Patel government. He pointed out the fact that there was no minister from the Bharuch Parliamentary constituency in the Patel government.

He said the outcome of the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat was likely to effect the entire state, and hence the BJP city unit was burning its midnight oil to ensure their candidate's win.

Interestingly, while many have minced no words in criticising the move, Desai has pointed out that their absence was unlikely to affect civic works ``as it is, they do not work. It is the commissioner who is actually running the show.''

Meanwhile, Municipal Commissioner S Jagadeesan's decision to stop the practice of `overtime' has been welcomed by the entire elected wing. While Congress and independent councillor fully endorse the civic chief's decision senior BJP councillors like Bakul Patel partially approve of it.

It may be noted that civic workers were paid for working overtime; an amount which is said to run in crores. Apparently, the decision to ban overtime is a part of an austerity measure.

Welcoming the decision, former standing committee chairman Narendra Gandhi said workers lose interest in work, as overtime for them was an incentive.

However, according to a standing committee member, overtime should be stopped only for non-technical job. There are certain jobs, which have to be treated differently, he said, adding fogging is effectively done at night. Or if a leaking drainage is to be repaired or in an emergency. For such works the commissioner should not stop overtime. ``It's not practical,'' he reasons.