Why is election for a cooperative sugar mill in Baramati capturing Maharashtra's attention?
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is not only fielding his own panel in the June 22 election for the Malegaon cooperative sugar mill in Baramati but is also running as a candidate for the chairman position to maintain his control. Unlike the 2020 election for the mill, this time, he faces significant opposition. Ajit Pawar is competing against his arch-rival Chandrarao Taware and Ranjan Kaka Taware from the BJP, as well as his estranged uncle, Sharad Pawar. This election for a cooperative sugar mill has become one of the most intense electoral highlights of 2025.
Who all are contesting the election?
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has fielded his Nilkantheshwar panel in this election. It is challenged by the Sharad Pawar-supported Baliraja Sahkar Bachao panel, led by his grandnephew Yugendra Pawar, the Sahakar Bachao Shetkari panel by Chandrarao Taware, and another panel of independents. The election will take place on June 22, while the results will be announced on June 24. A total of 21 members will be elected who will run the mill for the next five years.
Who can vote in cooperative sugar mill election?
The membership is cooperative sugar mills is given to sugarcane farmers who are also shareholders in the cooperative. These members can vote in the election. The Malegaon mill's functional area is of around 37 villages in Baramati tehsil and has around 20,000 members. Sharad Pawar is also a member and will be voting.
Why has cooperative sugar mill election become so intense?
Fourty-one years after Ajit Pawar first became the chairman of Chhatrapati Cooperative sugar mill in Indapur, he has once again declared himself as the candidate for this post in the election of the Malegaon cooperative sugar mill in Baramati. In 1984, Ajit Pawar was a young politician.
Now, he serves as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and is also the president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) following a split within the party. Instead of seeking a compromise with his rivals, including his estranged uncle Sharad Pawar and his main opponent Chandrarao Taware, he has chosen to run with his panel.
What is the history between Pawars and Tawares?
The Pawars and Tawares share a long history of political opposition. While Sharad Pawar ascended the political ladder, Taware maintained his control over the local cooperative sector. He unsuccessfully contested as an Independent against Ajit Pawar in 1999. Despite the Pawar family's repeated wins in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, it never managed to secure a conclusive victory over Tawares in cooperative sugar mill elections, as the latter remained a strong force, defeating Pawar-led panels several times over the last three decades.
In 2019, Chandrarao and Ranjan Taware joined the BJP. However, after the split in the NCP following Ajit's rebellion, Sharad Pawar visited Chandrarao in 2024 to bury the past ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
What is the political significance of this election?
The state BJP leadership has not instructed the Tawares to withdraw from the election against Ajit Pawar, despite being allies at both the state and national levels. The Tawares intend to leverage this situation to gain power from him. Furthermore, Sharad Pawar's panel is headed by his grandnephew Yugendra, which suggests that despite his previous Assembly poll loss, the NCP (SP) alliance will still position him as a significant opponent to Ajit Pawar.
A lot is at stake for Ajit Pawar, who has turned this into a battle for prestige. He declared himself the candidate for the chairman position, fearing that a split in votes between him and the panel led by Sharad Pawar would benefit Taware. He has been campaigning aggressively and has even criticised Taware's age. Reports about the merging of two NCP factions were overshadowed by the ongoing election, especially after Sharad Pawar expressed his dissatisfaction with Ajit's refusal to share positions of power, without explicitly naming him.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Speaker expunges oppn remarks, says ‘hear replies before walkouts'
Kolkata: "When you ask questions, hear out the replies," speaker Biman Banerjee on Thursday told BJP legislators staging a walkout before allowing state finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya to respond to discussions on the West Bengal Sales Tax (Settlement of Dispute) Amendment Bill, 2025. Warning of stern action, Banerjee expunged statements made by BJP MLAs during the day from the assembly proceedings. The issue started during the debate on the bill. BJP MLAs, including economist Ashok Lahiri and Ambika Roy, participated in the discussion. Lahiri even remarked that BJP was ready to listen to govt's response. However, soon after his speech, BJP MLAs led by its chief whip Shankar Ghosh began exiting the House. Although Lahiri initially remained seated, he too eventually left after being prodded by Ghosh. As Bhattacharya began her formal reply, the opposition benches were nearly empty. Outraged, she said, "They leave before hearing us. This cannot go on." Banerjee invoked assembly rules and said the opposition's remarks would be deleted from the day's proceedings. He added that according to rules, members cannot leave the House immediately after delivering their speeches. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The speaker said: "I have never seen such behaviour from the opposition before. They are continuously showing disrespect to the sanctity of the House. I do not want to exclude anyone, but if this continues, we will be forced to take sterner action." Terming it "highly unfortunate", Banerjee said "from now on, if such incidents are repeated, the opposition's entire statement will be expunged." The minister then asked the speaker if she should respond to the opposition's now-expunged points. "You don't need to reply. Just deliver your speech," Banerjee said. Bhattacharya said the amendments aimed to benefit both the tax assessee and state govt. "It will be a win-win situation for both if the principal tax can be recovered through a settlement without entering into legal disputes," she said. In the absence of opposition members, the bill was passed by a voice vote. BJP MLAs defended their action, saying they were given insufficient time to review the bill. Ghosh said they decided to leave the House before the minister's reply to register their protest.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
BJP govt's refusal to release Keeladi report an attack on Tamil culture: CM
Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin said the Union govt's refusal to publish Keeladi report even after two years of its submission was an attack on Tamil culture. "The Union BJP government, which seeks to suppress the cultural pride of Tamils by delaying the release of Keeladi excavation findings, has returned the final report submitted two years ago citing the need for additional evidence. This is a blatant attack by the BJP regime on Tamil culture," he said in a letter to cadres. Stalin said the Union govt's decision to turn down the report despite scientific backing, even as it continues to promote the 'imaginary' Saraswati civilisation which lacks scientific evidence, speaks about 'BJP's hatred for TN'. "Till now, the BJP has not been able to prove the existence of Saraswati civilization through any scientific methods. On the other hand, every artifact unearthed from the Keeladi, has undergone rigorous internationally accepted scientific analysis," he said. Stalin also hit out at the AIADMK, alleging the party was silent despite Tamil cultural identity being suppressed. "Keeladi excavations took place when the AIADMK was in power in Tamil Nadu. However, the AIADMK has remained silent on the racial and linguistic hegemony shown by BJP by rejecting the Keeladi findings," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Stalin said AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami was silent because he had mortgaged his party to BJP. He charged that a former AIADMK minister had gone to the extent of describing Keeladi, a Tamil civilization as 'Bharat civilization,' in a bid to please the BJP. Stalin said that TN govt has proven, through international studies on the antiquity of iron, that Tamil culture dates back more than 5,300 years. "It was the Dravidian model govt that released those findings. Yet, not a single tweet has been made by the Prime Minister or any BJP leader regarding the findings that establish the ancientness of Tamil culture," he said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Delhi MP Bidhuri highlights Modi govt's 11 yrs: Major development plans in pipeline
New Delhi: South Delhi MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said south Delhi had benefited the most from Modi govt as the national highway from Delhi to Vadodara would soon become the lifeline of the area. The construction of this new six-lane road, passing through Badarpur, is on at a cost of Rs 7,000 crore. The construction of a flyover at Meethapur Chowk and new bridges on Agra Canal and Gurgaon Canal near Meethapur Chowk has provided great relief to the people passing through south Delhi, he said. He was holding a press briefing on 11 years of Modi govt. He said the national highway from Delhi to Mumbai would soon be ready, which will be a major gift to the people of Delhi. The Delhi to Meerut Expressway, the national highway from Akshardham to Dehradun, an alternative route to Haridwar, the new Parliament House and Kartavya Path, the National War Memorial, the National Police War Memorial, Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre at Pragati Maidan, 2,000 electric buses to Delhi under FAME, and the Pragati Maidan Tunnel are among projects funded by Modi govt, he said. To combat pollution in Delhi, the world's largest eco park was built on 885 acres in Badarpur. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What She Did Mid-Air Left Passengers Speechless medalmerit Learn More Undo There are many other achievements like Bharat Vandana Park, a world-class golf course and sports complex, Bansera Park, on 137 acres, which have changed the lives of the people of Delhi, he said. He mentioned that under chief minister Rekha Gupta, BJP govt set records of work in just 100 days, fulfilling the promise of Prime Minister Modi. She implemented the Ayushman Bharat Yojana in the first cabinet meeting by increasing the amount to Rs 10 lakh. Apart from this, a provision of Rs 5,100 crore was made in the budget for the Mahila Samridhi Yojna, which would soon be implemented. "Eligible women are being selected for this, and soon this scheme will also be implemented. Cleaning of the Yamuna is a project which the BJP govt resolved and promised to complete in three years," he said.
