Surat Municipal Education Board (SMEB) chairman and BJP leader Dhanesh Shah has resigned from his post citing “ill health”. However, sources said he was asked to step down by the party following his “suspected involvement” in a recent “anonymous” letter that alleged irregularities by the BJP councillors in the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC).
Shah handed his resignation to Surat Mayor Daxesh Mawani Monday evening. “Due to ill health and other reasons, Dhanesh Shah had given resignation. We have accepted it,” Surat city BJP president Niranjan Janjmera said confirming the development to The Indian Express.
“Dhanesh Shah’s health was not good because of which he has resigned,” said SMEB vice-chairman Swatiben Sosa, who is currently holding the additional charge of chairman. However, the resignation has been linked to the recent anonymous mail received by elected councillors, Surat city BJP president and the state BJP president alleging irregularities carried out by BJP corporators in SMC.
Following the mail, the BJP unit of Surat had initiated a probe during the course of which Shah’s name reportedly cropped up, sources said.
SMC runs over 335 municipal schools with around 1.58 lakh students and 3,859 teachers.