Surat gets new Cong. president
Surat city Congress party has appointed Mr Sunil Gokhanwala as the new city party president after the last president Jawahar Upadhyay was booked by the Surat police (Prohibition wing) on October 11 during a raid at Dummas area of Surat.

Mr Upadhyay and three others were found consuming liquor late on October 11. The incident had created ripples in the political circle in Surat and was also termed as "political" by the local Congress party members.

It was the occasion of Chandipadva on October 11 and is being celebrated widely with consuming liquor, said the police. Considering the same, the police had chalked out some raids in various areas of the city on the particular day. However, during a raid at Dummas area, Mr Upadhyay was caught red handed while consuming liquor. Along with Mr Upadhyay, Subhash Jamnadas, Vasudev Nandashankar and Bharat Nandashankar were also arrested. The sources claimed that three other arrested persons were Mr Upadhyay’s close associates.

The police informed that Mr Upadhyay and others were arrested under Prohibition Act Sections 66 (1 - b), 65 (E - A), 85 (1) (3) and 68. The accused were produced before the court and were granted bail. Mr Upadhyay later had put forward his resignation before the party office.

The party on Wednesday accepted the resignation of Mr Upadhyay and appointed Mr Gokhanwala, a senior party member as the new party president.

Republished from The Asian Age