BJP gains in sugar sector as NCP baron joins party

TheBJP got a greater foothold in the sugar sector here when 30 office-bearers of an Ahmednagar-based sugar co-operative, including its chair...

TheBJP got a greater foothold in the sugar sector here when 30 office-bearers of an Ahmednagar-based sugar co-operative, including its chairman and NCP leader Prataprao Dhakane, joined the party today.

All 30 new members were presented by BJP national vice-president Gopinath Munde at a press meet here today.

Dhakane controls a union of cane growers from Beed and Nagar districts, and is the chairman of the Kedareshwar Co-operative Sugar Factory.

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Along with Dhakane, the entire board of directors of the Bodhegaon Co-operative also joined the party.

Others who have taken the BJP membership include Ahmednagar District Milk Association director Narayan Dhus, Zilla Parishad member Babasaheb Sonawane, former president of the Pathardi municipal council Ashokrao Udamle.

The unions controlled by Dhakane and Munde, who belongs to Parli-Vaijnath in Beed, were earlier in conflict with each other. With Dhakane’s support, Munde will now exercise control over 20 sugar factories in the belt.

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