Shenzhen executive vice-mayor Xu Qin, a close ally of Guangdong party chief Wang Yang, has emerged as the leading candidate to become the city's next mayor, nearly a year after former mayor Xu Zongheng was removed amid a graft probe.
A major leadership reshuffle is expected to be announced at the annual meeting of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress, between May 27 and 31.
The position of Shenzhen mayor is the last important position in Guangdong left unfilled after a round of reshuffles last month that saw the appointment of new party bosses for Guangzhou and Shenzhen and a new Guangzhou mayor.
Shenzhen officials believe that a power struggle involving candidates and their higher-level supporters has delayed the announcement.
Various government sources from both Shenzhen and Guangzhou said Xu Qin was 'almost confirmed' to become mayor after acting Shenzhen mayor Wang Rong was promoted to become Shenzhen's party boss last month, although the decision was not finalised.
'There are only two weeks left before the Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress opens and the limited time period isn't enough for an outsider to be parachuted in,' a Guangdong official familiar with Shenzhen affairs said.