.jpg)
Sangli District Bank Election: Legal Challenge to Gopichand Padalkar’s Candidature at Kolhapur Circuit Bench
Sangli, October 8, 2026: MLA Gopichand Padalkar’s candidature for the Sangli District Central Cooperative Bank election—specifically from the Primary Agricultural Credit Society (Group A) constituency of Jat Taluka—has now been challenged in court. Former MLA Vikram Sawant and former Market Committee Chairman Sujay Shinde have filed a petition at the Kolhapur Circuit Bench challenging the decision of the Returning Officer, who had declared Padalkar’s nomination application valid.
Sawant and Shinde had previously raised objections regarding Padalkar’s application. However, the Returning Officer—District Deputy Registrar of Cooperatives Sunil Chavan—dismissed the objections and upheld the validity of the application. A legal battle has now commenced against this decision.
In his application, Padalkar cited his membership of the Kunikonur Sarvaseva Cooperative Society and his experience as a director of the Nimbavade Rural Non-Agricultural Cooperative Credit Society. Sawant and Shinde have questioned the validity of both these credentials. The petition asserts that, according to Rule 35-2-a-2 of the bank’s bylaws, it is mandatory to hold membership in the relevant society for at least two years and to possess experience serving on the managing committee of a cooperative society for at least one year.
**Questions Raised Regarding Land Purchase Date**
The objectors have also raised a point concerning the membership of the Kunikonur Sarvaseva Cooperative Society. Padalkar purchased land in Kunikonur on February 20, 2026. Sawant and Shinde have questioned how he could have qualified as a resident or landholder within the society's area of ??operation prior to that date. Issue regarding the operational jurisdiction of the Nimbvade society
The petition states that the operational jurisdiction of the Nimbvade Rural Non-Agricultural Cooperative Credit Society is limited solely to the village of Nimbvade. Consequently, it is claimed that Padalkar’s membership and directorship in the society are in violation of the rules. Due to these objections, the validity of Padalkar’s candidature from the Jat ‘A’ Society constituency is now subject to judicial scrutiny.
Sangli, October 8, 2026: MLA Gopichand Padalkar’s candidature for the Sangli District Central Cooperative Bank election—specifically from the Primary Agricultural Credit Society (Group A) constituency of Jat Taluka—has now been challenged in court. Former MLA Vikram Sawant and former Market Committee Chairman Sujay Shinde have filed a petition at the Kolhapur Circuit Bench challenging the decision of the Returning Officer, who had declared Padalkar’s nomination application valid.
Sawant and Shinde had previously raised objections regarding Padalkar’s application. However, the Returning Officer—District Deputy Registrar of Cooperatives Sunil Chavan—dismissed the objections and upheld the validity of the application. A legal battle has now commenced against this decision.
In his application, Padalkar cited his membership of the Kunikonur Sarvaseva Cooperative Society and his experience as a director of the Nimbavade Rural Non-Agricultural Cooperative Credit Society. Sawant and Shinde have questioned the validity of both these credentials. The petition asserts that, according to Rule 35-2-a-2 of the bank’s bylaws, it is mandatory to hold membership in the relevant society for at least two years and to possess experience serving on the managing committee of a cooperative society for at least one year.
**Questions Raised Regarding Land Purchase Date**
The objectors have also raised a point concerning the membership of the Kunikonur Sarvaseva Cooperative Society. Padalkar purchased land in Kunikonur on February 20, 2026. Sawant and Shinde have questioned how he could have qualified as a resident or landholder within the society's area of ??operation prior to that date. Issue regarding the operational jurisdiction of the Nimbvade society
The petition states that the operational jurisdiction of the Nimbvade Rural Non-Agricultural Cooperative Credit Society is limited solely to the village of Nimbvade. Consequently, it is claimed that Padalkar’s membership and directorship in the society are in violation of the rules. Due to these objections, the validity of Padalkar’s candidature from the Jat ‘A’ Society constituency is now subject to judicial scrutiny.
Sawant and Shinde had previously raised objections regarding Padalkar’s application. However, the Returning Officer—District Deputy Registrar of Cooperatives Sunil Chavan—dismissed the objections and upheld the validity of the application. A legal battle has now commenced against this decision.
In his application, Padalkar cited his membership of the Kunikonur Sarvaseva Cooperative Society and his experience as a director of the Nimbavade Rural Non-Agricultural Cooperative Credit Society. Sawant and Shinde have questioned the validity of both these credentials. The petition asserts that, according to Rule 35-2-a-2 of the bank’s bylaws, it is mandatory to hold membership in the relevant society for at least two years and to possess experience serving on the managing committee of a cooperative society for at least one year.
**Questions Raised Regarding Land Purchase Date**
The objectors have also raised a point concerning the membership of the Kunikonur Sarvaseva Cooperative Society. Padalkar purchased land in Kunikonur on February 20, 2026. Sawant and Shinde have questioned how he could have qualified as a resident or landholder within the society's area of ??operation prior to that date. Issue regarding the operational jurisdiction of the Nimbvade society
The petition states that the operational jurisdiction of the Nimbvade Rural Non-Agricultural Cooperative Credit Society is limited solely to the village of Nimbvade. Consequently, it is claimed that Padalkar’s membership and directorship in the society are in violation of the rules. Due to these objections, the validity of Padalkar’s candidature from the Jat ‘A’ Society constituency is now subject to judicial scrutiny.
