Latur, Oct 17 Maharashtra Cooperation Minister and NCP leader Babasaheb Patil has decided to remain with the Congress panel for the upcoming Latur District Central Co-operative Bank polls, defying the ruling Mahayuti alliance’s plan for a joint contest.
The development comes just two days after leaders of Mahayuti, which comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, announced that the alliance would contest the district bank elections together.
A total of 139 applications were received for 19 seats as the deadline to file nominations expired on October 16.
Patil told reporters he had been associated with the Congress panel for the past 40 years and intended to continue working with it.
“The bank is functioning well, and several decisions need to be taken in the interest of farmers. I will remain with this panel. Cooperative elections are not contested on party symbols, so political affiliations should not be an issue,” he said.
Citing examples of political leaders coming together for cooperative institutions in Ahilyanagar and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Patil said he saw no difficulty in continuing with the Congress panel.
Meanwhile, former BJP minister Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar accused Patil of misusing his official position and said he would submit a detailed complaint to the Mahayuti leadership.
He said Patlil had gone back on an understanding reached at a meeting held earlier to contest the election under the ‘Sahakar Panel’ to maintain unity within the Mahayuti.
But Patil arrived with Congress leaders and filed his relative’s nomination, instead of proceeding with the agreed Mahayuti arrangement, claimed Nilangekar.
Nilangekar also alleged that the minister used his departmental influence to secure his relative’s place on the voters’ list despite discrepancies involving entries in the electoral rolls.
Nilangekar told reporters that Patil might contest future elections as a Congress candidate rather than from the NCP.
“If he wants to contest the election with the Congress, he should resign from his ministerial post,” Nilangekar said.
Avinash Patil, nephew of Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil and son of former minister Balasaheb Jadhav, filed his nomination from the Ahmedpur society constituency on behalf of the Congress panel.
Local BJP leaders Arvind Patil Nilangekar, Rishikesh Karad, and Babu Khandade were among those who filed nominations on behalf of the Mahayuti.
The election will be held on November 15 among 999 voters. Scrutiny of nomination papers will begin on October 19, while the final list of candidates will be published on October 21. Candidates can withdraw their nominations until November 4.
Votes will be counted later in November, said election officer and resident deputy collector Keshav Netke.
(PTI News)
