MLAs’ united rally over milk prices puts Vadodara BJP in a spot

Vadodara: An unprecedented crisis has hit the Vadodara disrict unit of the BJP with four MLAs from the party joining hands over affairs of the Baorda Dairy. The MLAs are seeking payment of difference in milk rates after procurement prices were raised recently.
It was Savli BJP MLA Ketan Inamdar who raised the issue alleging that dairy farmers who were providing milk to the dairies had not been paid the difference amount completely.He even alleged irregularities in the dairy. He had threatened an agitation regarding the affairs of the dairy.
Dabhoi MLA Shailesh Mehta, Waghodiya MLA Madhu Shrivastava and Karjan MLA Akshay Patel — all from the ruling BJP — too extended support to Inamdar.
A meeting was called by the district unit of the BJP and all the four MLAs, chairman of Baroda Dairy Dinesh Patel and other party functionaries attended the meeting. But the meeting did not resolve the issue and Inamdar threatened to hold a protest at the dairy on Tuesday and Wednesday. He also threatened to intensify the agitation on Thursday.
On Thursday, tight police security was maintained at the dairy, district collectorate and the entry to the city from Savli at Dumad. Inamdar’s supporters and milk cooperative members from Savli were not allowed to reach the dairy by the police. The protest at the dairy was also not permitted.
All the four MLAs including Inamdar stayed put at the circuit house. Late in the afternoon, Inamdar said that the state leadership was going to intervene in the matter.
Speaking to media persons Inamdar said that he was going to meet the state BJP president C R Paatil and was hopeful of a positive outcome. “There are no malefide interests or politics in the issue. We need results and hence have taken up the issue,” he said.
All the four MLAs are known to be outspoken. Also, barring Inamdar, they have joined BJP after being with other parties. Inamdar too has contested as an independent in the past in the district panchayat and assembly polls.