BJP’s Jitendra Patel elected Sumul Dairy director, defeats suspended party colleague | Ahmedabad News – DairyScoop

His main opponent, suspended BJP leader Bipinchandra Chaudhury represented the Balda Village Milk Cooperative Committee. Both candidates along with their supporters were present at the Sahkari Sangh office in Bardoli when the counting was carried out Tuesday. Police were also deployed at the spot to prevent any untoward incident.

Earlier, the nomination of Congress candidate Suresh Chaudhary from Kantha Village Milk Cooperative Committee was cancelled due to “technical reasons”. Additionally, three other candidates had withdrawn their nomination forms.

On July 31, Bipinchandra was suspended from the party by Surat party BJP president Bharat Rathod for indulging in “anti-party activities”  after he independently filed his nomination .

Reacting to his win, Jitendra Patel said, “I am happy that the voters and my party members put their faith in me, which helped in my victory.”

Meanwhile, Bipinchandra  told The Indian Express, “I was against the mandate practice in the party. I am happy that 18 voters 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.”

Surat district BJP president Bharat Rathod said, “We were waiting for the results and now a no-confidence motion in the Bardoli Taluka Panchayat will be 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.