NCP MP Mandlik wins sugar factory elections; defeats NCP Minister

Kolhapur, Jun 8 (UNI) NCP MP Sadashivrao Mandlik-led panel won the board of directors' elections of the Sadashivrao Mandlik Co-operative Sugar Factory, located at Hamidwada village in Kagal tehsil of this district by defeating rival panel led by NCP Minister Hasan Mushrif.

A total 66 candidates were in the fray for the election. As many as 23 members are on the new board of directors for which 91 per cent farmer voters from the total about 16,000 voters had exercised their franchise on Wednesday.

The counting of votes began yesterday morning at government multi-purpose hall here and ended late last evening in which all 23 candidates of Mandlik-led panel including Mr Mandlik were declared elected.

The sugar factory election had become a prestigious issue between two NCP heavy weights, who at one time shared a master-pupil relation. But Mr Mandlik, a senior NCP leader and factory founder-chairman succeeded to retain power in the sugar factory election.

Mr Mushrif, state school education minister, contested the elections but lost it by 346 votes.

The outcome of the elections were eagerly awaited in western Maharashtra's political circles as this election was held despite NCP chief Sharad Pawar urging leaders to find an amicable solution to ensure an unanimous constitution of the board of directors.

UNI