Surat: Paresh Patel has become the new president of the city unit of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Patel is a corporator from ward number 23. He is the former chairman of the Standing Committee of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC). He is also the former president of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SGCCI). Patel is believed to be close to state party chief CR Patil. Paresh Patel replaces Niranjan Zanzmera, who stayed on the post of city BJP chief for around four and a half years. Meanwhile, the party has appointed Bharat Rathod as President of the Surat district unit of BJP once again.

Patel, who has been a businessman in the textile industry, served as the Elected Vice President of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industries for the year 2011-12 and later became its President for the term 2012-13. Additionally, he is the Convenor of the Chamber of Commerce Disaster Management Committee, contributing significantly during major crises such as the Surat floods in 1998 and the Kutch earthquake in 2001. His association with the Chamber of Commerce dates back to 1998 when he became a member.

In the field of education, Patel has served as a senate-syndicate member of Veer Narmad South Gujarat University from 2012 to 2017. He is also a former member of the Surat Airport Advisory Committee. He has been associated with the Surat District Cricket Association as a Managing Committee member. DeshGujarat