Baroda Dairy Board Elections Conclude with High Turnout and Key BJP Victories
The board elections for the Baroda District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited, commonly known as Baroda Dairy, concluded on Wednesday with a high voter turnout of nearly 98%. Polling was conducted in four zones—Vadodara taluka, Desar, Dabhoi, and Pavijetpur—between 9 am and 3 pm, with results declared later in the day after counting began at 4 pm. The elections saw BJP-backed candidates secure significant victories in closely contested races.
Closely Fought Contests and Narrow Margins
In the Vadodara taluka zone, Parthiv Patel emerged victorious over Hitesh Patel by a narrow margin of just eight votes, highlighting the competitive nature of the election. The Desar taluka seat witnessed another tight race, where Surpalsinh Parmar defeated sitting director Kuldeepsinh Raulji by six votes. Parmar, backed by BJP MLA Ketan Inamdar, received congratulations from Sandip Inamdar, the brother of Savli MLA, shortly after the results were announced. Parmar expressed his commitment to working under the MLA's guidance moving forward.
Clear Victories and Political Backing
The Dabhoi block saw a decisive win for Dixit Patel, who secured 52 votes against Prahlad Patel's 25. Prahlad Patel had the backing of the Congress party, making this a notable defeat for the opposition. In the Pavijetpur block, sitting director Ranjitsinh Rathwa retained his seat by defeating Gemal Rathwa by 11 votes, demonstrating his continued support among voters.
Uncontested Elections and Returning Members
Of the dairy union's 13 zones, elections were held only in zones 3, 6, 8, and 12. Candidates in the remaining nine zones were elected unopposed, including incumbent chairman Dinesh Patel, also known as Dinu Mama, and vice-chairman G B Solanki. Overall, nine sitting directors returned to the board, indicating a mix of continuity and change in the leadership structure.
Political Involvement and Celebrations
Several political figures actively participated in the election process. Dabhoi MLA Shailesh Mehta, alias Sotta, was present as a voter, underscoring the political significance of these elections. Supporters celebrated the victories with firecrackers as the results were declared, reflecting the enthusiasm surrounding the outcomes.
Focus Shifts to Leadership Selection
With the board elections now over, attention has turned to the selection of the next chairman and vice-chairman of Baroda Dairy. The dairy, which boasts an annual turnover of approximately Rs 1,400 crore, plays a crucial role in the regional economy. The new board will be tasked with guiding its operations and strategic direction in the coming term.
