It all began when former Congress MP and corporator Satyajit Gaekwad quoting newspaper reports said the edible oil prices were on the rise as Chief Minister was hand-in-glove with the oil barons.

Earlier, the Opposition moved a proposal asking the General Board to form an all party delegation to urge the State Government to check the rising prices. Mayor Bharati Vyas refused to accept the proposal. She, however, allowed discussion on it.

In the ruckus nothing was audible as the BJP councillors and Gaekwad traded charges and counter charges.

Pradip Joshi of BJP alleged that MP's grants of Gaekwad had lapsed. Gaekwad challenged Joshi and said that he would quit his councillorship if Joshi proved his charges. Congress councillors Kanchanbhai Parmar, Chirag Zhaveri and Shailesh Mehta also participated in the discussion. Mayor Bharati Vyas ordered them to end discussion on the issue.

BJP councillors also countered Zhaveri's allegation that 60 per cent of the councillors quota and fodwari budget of the BJP councillors had lapsed. Zhaveri demanded that records of the budget heads be presented in the General Board.

Ice factory: Bharat Shah of BJP demanded survey of factories in the residential areas. Chandrakant Shrivastav of Lokshahi Morcha asked whether factories should be set up in residential areas and what was the VMC doing for those who were affected due to the ammonia leakage in Bavamanpura.

Mehta threatened that the party would force a closure by taking law in its hands if the license was renewed.

The Opposition also criticised the BJP office-bearers, including the Mayor, for not visiting the affected persons. As the Congress tried to give a communal twist, Vyas said she was in touch with the authorities concerned over telephone. The factory is located in the area dominated by the minorities.

Rajendra Trivedi of BJP alleged that a person from the minority community had deliberately planned the blast as he wanted to construct a multi-storeyed building at the factory site.

Chimney: Replying to Shrivastav, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Administration) H S Patel said the VMC had decided to bring down the chimney which was in a dilapitated condition near Pratapnagar. Patel said modalities were being worked out to bring down the structure as it was a private property and there was no claimant.

Hotel row: The DyMC announced that the VMC has served a notice to the Hotel in Sayaji Garden stating that it was using the premises for lodging purposes as well whereas the permission was granted for boarding only.

Standing Committee chairman N V Patel and BJP councillor Pradip Joshi questioned how did the hotel get water and drainage connections when there was a controversy over nature of permission.