Mohite-Patil urges all parties to unite for farmers in Solapur DCC Bank polls

Activity has begun ahead of the Solapur District Central Co-operative Bank (DCC) election, and district politics has started to stir. An important meeting was held at the Shivratna bungalow in Akluj, led by former Deputy Chief Minister Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil. Senior co-operative leaders and workers from the district attended.

A point made at the meeting by former MLA Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil is being discussed across the district. It is believed it could set the direction ahead.

Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil said plainly that the bank belongs to farmers, not to any one party. Speaking at the meeting, he said, "The district central bank is not just a bank; it is the backbone of lakhs of farmers, working people and the village economy. The crop in my farmer brother's field stands on loans from this bank. So, instead of treating this election as a matter of prestige for any one political party, it is the need of the hour for everyone to work together, keeping the interest of farmers above all."

He said the co-operative movement has made a major contribution to the development of Maharashtra's villages. Stalwarts such as Vitthalrao Shinde and Abhaysinh Mohite-Patil laid the foundation of this co-operative effort. To preserve this proud tradition, leaders of all parties in the district should set aside political differences and party walls and come under one roof, he said, and that is their true role.

Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil also assured that efforts would be made to take everyone along to make the co-operative movement in Solapur district stronger, more transparent and more beneficial to farmers. His message of taking everyone along is being welcomed across the district's co-operative sector. Among farmers too, the hope is being expressed that co-operation will count for more than politics in the bank election.

Meanwhile, it is learned that as soon as the election was announced, a separate meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party and like-minded leaders was held under guardian minister Jaykumar Gore. The DCC Bank election strategy was discussed at that meeting too.

All of Solapur district is now watching how the BJP and guardian minister Jaykumar Gore respond to Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil's appeal for unity among all parties and an unopposed election. The question is also whether all the leaders will set aside the political contest and come together for farmers.

Ordinary farmers are now saying that if all the leaders unite, the Solapur DCC Bank will stand stronger as a true bank of farmers.