Vadodara Dairy board election delay challenged in Gujarat High Court

The prolonged delay in electing a new board of directors for Vadodara Dairy -- more than three months after the expiry of its term-- has reached the Gujarat High Court, with a senior cooperative leader seeking judicial intervention to compel the authorities to hold the polls.

A petition has been filed by Dineshbhai Balubhai Patel, better known as Dinu Mama, a prominent figure in Vadodara district’s cooperative sector. The petition seeks direction to conduct and complete the Vadodara Dairy board elections at the earliest and will be heard on January 8.

Petition cites delay after expiry of board’s term

According to the petition, the term of the Vadodara Dairy board ended around two-and-a-half years after its constitution, but elections have not been held despite the lapse of the statutory period. The petitioner has urged the court to issue clear instructions to the concerned authorities to ensure that the election process is completed without further delay.

The case has drawn attention within the cooperative sector, particularly as similar delays in other milk unions have previously been addressed by the High Court.

Allegations of political interference in cooperative elections

It is alleged that the delay stems from internal political calculations within the BJP and its cooperative leadership. Sources in the cooperative sector claim that party leaders were unable to weaken the influence of Dinu Mama and another leader, Satish Patel, within Vadodara Dairy, making it difficult for BJP-backed candidates to secure victory.

As a result, the election was allegedly deferred. The continuing influence of established cooperative leaders is said to have complicated efforts to install new party-aligned representatives in key cooperative institutions.

Friction within BJP, RSS and cooperative leadership

According to persons familiar with the issue, BJP leaders have been attempting to place party workers in cooperative bodies across the state. However, long-standing figures in the cooperative movement have resisted these efforts, leading to growing friction among BJP leaders, RSS functionaries and cooperative leaders.

Earlier, elections to the Amreli District Milk Producers’ Union, Gandhinagar’s Madhur Dairy and Ahmedabad’s Uttam Dairy were not conducted on time. In each of these cases, the respective managements approached the Gujarat High Court, which subsequently ordered that elections be held immediately. These rulings are believed to have informed the present petition.

Earlier attempts to change Vadodara Dairy leadership

After the expiry of the Vadodara Dairy board’s term, elections to the posts of chairman and vice-chairman were announced. The BJP leadership had reportedly decided to remove both office-bearers as part of a broader leadership change, which included an effort to sideline Dinu Mama.

However, all directors of Vadodara Dairy are said to have supported Dinu Mama, frustrating these plans. Anticipating the defeat of BJP-backed candidates, the election was postponed, sources say.

Subsequently, observers were appointed, following which Dinu Mama was removed as chairman and Satish Patel was appointed in his place. At that stage, with directors continuing to back Dinu Mama, there were concerns of dissent within the board. J.B. Solanki was retained as vice-chairman.

Recent election results underline continuing influence

The political dynamics within Vadodara’s cooperative sector were further highlighted by recent elections. Around August 2025, elections to the Padra Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) were held, in which Dinu Mama fielded a full panel against BJP-backed candidates and defeated them.

In November 2025, elections were held for the Vadodara Purchase and Sale Union. Nine BJP-backed candidates were elected unopposed. The remaining seats went to polls, with candidates backed by Satish Patel and Dinu Mama contesting from Karjan and Padra, respectively. The Karjan candidate was defeated, while both Padra candidates won.

These outcomes are widely seen as reinforcing Dinu Mama’s continued dominance in the cooperative politics of Vadodara district, a factor that now forms the backdrop to the legal challenge before the Gujarat High Court.