BJP sidelines old guards in Amit Shah’s rally on Co-operation

The first-ever conclave on co-operation organized by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Amit Shah, Union Minister for Home and Cooperation at Ahmednagar on Saturday was the gathering of the party’s co-operative barons- those who joined BJP in recent years.

Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, the host of the conclave, and his son, MP Sujay joined the BJP ahead of the 2019 general elections. Besides, Leader of Opposition Praveen Darekar, Ranjit Singh Mohite-Patil, Prithviraj Deshmukh of Sangli, MLA Shivendrasinh Raje Bhosale, ex-ministers Madhukar Pichad, and Harshwardhan Patil were the prominent faces on the dais.

Pankaja, Bagade not given importance, Danve did not get opportunity

Some of the old guards from the BJP who ventured into the cooperative sector by setting up different units in the last over a decade were conspicuous by their absence. BJP’s first such venture was launched by Gopinath Munde when he started Vaidyanath cooperative sugar factory in Parli and some private sugar factories in Beed and Latur districts which are now controlled by Munde’s daughter Pankaja. Besides her, former state assembly speaker Haribhau Bagde, Subhash Deshmukh, who runs several co-operative societies under Lokmangal Group in Solapur was not given any importance in the first-ever conclave attended by Shah. Interestingly, Deshmukh was in charge of the co-operation department in the Devendra Fadnavis-led government.

Though Raosaheb Danve, BJP’s senior leader from the co-operative sector, who is also the minister of state for Railways, was present on the dais. But he was not among the speakers. Leaders such as Danve, who formed co-operative societies in the last 15-20 years should have been allowed to present their views. Danve’s colleague in the union cabinet, minister of State for finance Bhagwat Karad, and State BJP chief Chandrakant Patil too were among the dignitaries on the dais but did not get an opportunity to speak.

Besides Amit Shah, those who spoke at the conclave were the leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil being the host, Jaiprakash Dandegaonkar being the chairman of the state sugar federation, and Vidyadhar Anaskar, chief administrator of Maharashtra State Co-operative (MSC) Apex Bank.

Dandegaonkar presented the problems of the cooperative sugar industry. Anaskar has already opposed some of the Center’s policies. Such as the RBI circular- instructing urban co-operative banks over the formation of the board of directors and executive director. Though Anaskar was appointed by the BJP-led government at the state, is vehemently opposing the circular. But he did not speak on these issues at the rally.

Focal point was problems faced by BJP men

The focal point of the rally was the problems of the cooperative units controlled by BJP leaders who were with Congress-NCP earlier and now known as supporters of Fadnavis. All these leaders were part of the delegations that held meetings with Amit Shah in Delhi at least 2-3 times. The issues raised by them during the Delhi meetings figured in the speech of Shah, which came as warnings for the state.

The Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state has tightened the noose around the co-operatives headed by these BJP leaders. It is said that the Uddhav Thackeray-led state government is reluctant to provide financial assistance to them, refusing to give bank guarantees if they decide to borrow from outside, and various other issues where the state support is crucial are being neglected.

For ages, the cooperative sector has been the backbone of the rural economy that plays a very crucial role in state politics as well. With the formation of 2-3 co-operative societies, any leader can easily establish control over one or two assembly constituencies and can dominate local politics. Now BJP is eying this sector, traditionally controlled by Congress and NCP.

Formidable grip maintained by the Congress and NCP over the political affairs in Maharashtra might have prompted the BJP government at the Center to establish a separate department dedicated to the co-operation sector. The Congress-NCP stalwarts from the co-operative sector might have understood what Amit Shah means to say which he has said at Ahmednagar. They have a choice- either to fall in the line or take the BJP-led central government head-on. The strategy for this might be decided by NCP chief Sharad Pawar who has a firm grip over the state co-operative sector.

Shah means what he says

The announcement of a new policy for co-operation, amendments in the Multinational Co-operative Societies Act, made by Shah might figure prominently in the action plan. This political battle of controlling the power sector will be interesting to watch in the coming days keeping an eye over the general elections to Lok Sabha and State Assembly.

Some leaders from Maharashtra claim that the Center is having little say in the co-operation sector since it’s the state subject. But it’s not true. Sugar and cotton- both commodities are on the central list. Also, the state co-operatives have often to knock the doors of the central government in connection with the Reserve Bank policies and financial support given by NABARD, NCDC, and funds released through the Sugar Development Fund, release orders for Sugar and its buffer stock along with the permission for the import and export, policy on ethanol, etc.

Center can make things difficult

Till March 2020 NCDC alone has provided financial assistance of approximately Rs. 17,000 Cr to various co-operative institutions from Maharashtra. If the veiled threat by Shah has any meaning, co-operatives from the state can face difficulties in getting such assistance.

The cooperative sector has turned into traditional fiefdoms controlled by prominent leaders by themselves or their family members where members have little or no say. A fierce battle is expected in the name of partisan politics.