Rajvardhan Shinde elected Someshwar sugar factory chairman, Sangram Sorte vice-chairman, unopposed

Rajvardhan Shinde has been elected chairman and Sangram Sorte vice-chairman of Shri Someshwar Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana, both unopposed. A special meeting of the board of directors was convened in the Rajmata Jijau hall of the factory, regarded as one of the leading ones in the state. The meeting was held solely to choose the chairman and vice-chairman, and the elections took place there.

Along with senior directors, several young faces were also being discussed for the chairman's post. However, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar and MP Parth Pawar took into account Shinde's earlier experience as chairman. They gave the opportunity to Shinde, who was elected from the Valhe constituency by a large margin.

The election took place in the presence of NCP youth leader Jay Pawar. Nationalist Congress Party Pune district president Sambhaji Holkar, Rajendra Korekar and taluka president Sandip Bandal proposed Shinde's name. Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar had also recommended Shinde for the chairman's post. For vice-chairman, they put forward Sangram Sorte's name. Returning officer Digvijay Aher and assistant returning officer Pramod Durgude declared Shinde and Sorte elected unopposed, as only one name had come in for each post.

Shinde belongs to Murum village in Baramati taluka. He has earlier served as vice-chairman and chairman of the Baramati Taluka Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Sangh. He was the factory's unopposed chairman from 2005 to 2007, and again held the post of chairman of the Someshwar factory from 2010 to 2013. He was a director from 2021 to 2026. He also did notable work as president of the Baramati taluka NCP. On the strength of this long experience, he has got another chance at the chairmanship.

Speaking after the election, Shinde said: "I got the opportunity to work in the cooperative sector because of the late Ajitdada. I was able to learn by watching his way of working. I am happy that after Dada, I could stand firmly with his family. In the coming days, we will maintain Someshwar's tradition of record prices. Although there is a drought-like situation at present, I have experience of working in such conditions. So, with the cooperation of the board of directors, officers, workers and members, we will see this season through successfully."

It is being said that by giving the vice-chairman's post to Sorte, who belongs to the OBC category, Sunetra Pawar has struck a social balance. Sorte has been elected for a second time by a large margin from the Class B institutional representatives category. Through the Navnath Udyog Samuh, he has wide experience in the cooperative and farming sectors. He has run several cooperative societies, credit societies and milk producer societies successfully. He is seen as a loyal worker of Ajit Pawar. It is also being said that by giving him the vice-chairman's post, Sunetra Pawar has done justice to the OBC community.

After the election, Sorte said that on this occasion one cannot help remembering the late Ajitdada. He said that in the coming days the factory's affairs would be run transparently and frugally. He also said they were ready to work round the clock for its interest.

Both the newly elected chairman Rajvardhan Shinde and vice-chairman Sangram Sorte were also on the previous board of directors. At meetings in the Rajmata Jijau hall they would always sit next to each other. It is being described as a coincidence that these two neighbouring directors have now become the chairman and vice-chairman of the factory.