SURAT: Tremors caused by
internal fight among BJP bigwigs in Surat district have impacted
elections of
Mahua sugar cooperative society factory. Mahua sugar cooperative factory president
Mansinh Patel lost polls,
which were held on Saturday, after more than 15 years and in all likelihood will now lose top post in the
Gujarat Sahakari Khand Udyog Sangh too.
Two groups owing allegiance to different factions of BJP's Surat unit had adopted various methods to see that their rivals lost elections of Mahua sugar cooperative factory. A group led by newly-elected BJP MLA Mohan Dodiya took 12 directors on a two-day vacation to Saputara. Mansinh Patel, a former BJP MP, too came up with an innovative scheme to keep the directors in good humour. However, Patel lost the polls and could get only seven out of the 12 votes of the directors. Balwant Patel, who was supported by Mohan Dodiya, got 12 votes. Dodiya said, "He got the result that he deserved. He is officially with BJP but had worked against the party in the assembly elections by supporting Dr Tushar Chaudhary of Congress."
Patel and Dodiya have been at loggerheads for the last one decade over their attempts to gain control of the sugar and milk cooperatives in Surat district. The Patel camp alleges that Dodiya has been harassing him in SUMUL forcing the former's Vanskui Milk Mandli to approach court when an attempt was made to keep its members out. Some BJP workers alleged that Patel was the first to oppose candidature of Dodiya from Mahua seat describing him as an outsider. Patel supported Congress' Tushar Chaudhary and worked to see that Dodiya was defeated. However, BJP was able to retain the seat in the assembly elections.
A director of Bardoli sugar cooperative society said, "This fight has been going on since many years. It is about time that the party leadership enforces discipline because this kind of rivalry can affect BJP's prospects in other seats and sugar cooperatives."
