Elections in Sumul Dairy
BJP-nominated candidate and member of Surat district Panchayat Jitendra Patel was elected as one of the directors of Sumul Dairy in their bypolls for the Bardoli seat, the results of which were declared on Tuesday afternoon. Patel represents the Bamni Village Milk Cooperative Committee.
His main opponent was suspended BJP leader and vice president of Bardoli taluka Panchayat Bipinchandra Chaudhury, representing the Balda Village Milk Cooperative Committee. The Congress candidate, Suresh Chaudhary of the Kantha Village Milk Cooperative Committee, had his nomination cancelled due to “technical reasons”. Three other candidates had withdrawn their nomination forms.
Voting share
Out of a total of 58 eligible voters, 57 voters cast their votes while one voter was overseas. The voters are members of different milk committees in Bardoli taluka. Patel reportedly got 38 votes, Chaudhary received 18, and one vote was deemed invalid.
Bipinchandara Chaudhary was suspended from the BJP by Surat party BJP president Bharat Rathod on July 31 after Chaudhary did not withdraw his nomination.
Speaking to the Indian Express, Chaudhary said, “I was against the mandate practice in the party. I am happy that 18 voters have supported my vision. Even as the party has suspended me, I will continue my fight against the use of mandate practice in the cooperative body elections.”
No Confidence motion
Surat district BJP president Bharat Rathod said, “We welcome the results. We have started taking action against Bipin Chaudhary. We were waiting for the results and now a no-confidence motion in the Bardoli Taluka Panchayat will passed against him.”
The bypolls were conducted two years after sitting director Ajit Patel (Kharwasa Village Milk Cooperative Committee) resigned from the post in 2022. Sumul Dairy currently has 16 directors.
