Ram Shinde meets Yashwantrao Gadakh in Sonai ahead of Ahilyanagar district bank poll deadline

With one day left for withdrawal of nominations in the Ahilyanagar District Central Cooperative Bank election, a development has set political circles abuzz. BJP senior leader and Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde went to Sonai and met senior leader and former MP Yashwantrao Gadakh at his residence. The unannounced meeting has caused a stir in the district's political circles.

Shinde appealed to Gadakh to help remove the obstacles in the way of the bank being elected unopposed. Speaking to the media after the meeting, he said, "The seniors will now have to intervene!" He also extended Vijayadashami greetings to the journalists.

Shinde said the Ahilyanagar District Central Cooperative Bank is not merely an arena of politics. It is the bank of farmers, factory owners and lakhs of members. If the bank is to be elected unopposed, senior leaders such as Yashwantrao Gadakh must mediate, he said. He added that they should show the courage to call wrong what is wrong and right what is right, and give everyone a message of reconciliation in the manner of an elder.

Meanwhile, the guardian minister has called an urgent meeting at 3 pm today. Shinde's visit to Gadakh in Sonai before that meeting has fuelled speculation in political circles. Explaining himself, Shinde said, "I have not come here after speaking to the guardian minister. But I learnt that a meeting on the unopposed election has been called at 3 pm. I too have had a call from the guardian minister and I will certainly attend the meeting. But before that, I met Gadakh Saheb so that the path to an unopposed election becomes smoother."

Because the meeting took place around Dussehra, Shinde made a pointed remark. He said, "Today the Vijayadashami crossing of the border will be decided, and by 3 pm tomorrow it will be clear who holds sway over the district bank, and whether the bank is truly elected unopposed or a battle erupts!"

The election campaign for the Ahilyanagar District Central Cooperative Bank is under way. Known as a major bank of farmers, it has many farmer members. The whole district is now watching what is decided at the guardian minister's 3 pm meeting and which nominations are withdrawn by 3 pm tomorrow.