Padalkar gets Supreme Court relief in Sangli bank poll; Chandrakant Patil offers chocolate and advice

BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar has received major relief in the Sangli District Central Cooperative Bank election. Padalkar had approached the Supreme Court after his candidature application was declared invalid. It is reported that with relief from the Supreme Court, his path in the election is now clear. Following this, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil congratulated Padalkar by offering him chocolate.

Political discussion has intensified in Sangli after Padalkar's candidature was cleared. Amid this, Patil felicitated him. On the occasion, he made a remark in a lighter vein and advised Padalkar to focus more on work.

Patil said, "Even US President Donald Trump is afraid of Padalkar. A complete strategy has been prepared for what will happen when he comes to the bank. He is like an expert wrestler who throws down eight or ten men. But Padalkar, speak less and work more, the Chief Minister has said so. Yes, Padalkar should have spirit, but we do not want frenzy." He also gave this advice.

Padalkar had filed his candidature application from the Jat society category of the Sangli District Bank. An objection was raised to the validity of his application, after which it was rejected. The Kolhapur Bench of the Bombay High Court had also upheld that decision. Padalkar then moved the Supreme Court. With relief now granted by the Supreme Court, the contest in the district bank election is likely to become tougher.

The basis of the objection has also come to light. The petitioners had questioned Padalkar's membership of the Kunikonur Sarvaseva Cooperative Society. There was also a question over his experience as a director of the Nimbavade Rural Non-Agricultural Credit Society. The issue raised was that the district bank's bylaws require membership for a fixed period and experience on a management committee.

The petition also asked how he obtained membership before buying land on February 20, 2026. It further asked whether membership of a credit society and a directorship can be counted for the election. These developments are likely to make the Sangli District Bank election even more interesting.