SUMUL Dairy Elections 2026: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-backed Sahkar Panel has registered a commanding victory in the SUMUL Dairy Board Elections 2026, winning 15 out of 16 director seats and retaining control of one of Gujarat’s largest cooperative milk unions.
The only non-BJP-backed winner was independent candidate Dhansukh Patel, who emerged victorious from the Olpad constituency, making him the sole independent member on the newly elected board.
BJP Continues Control Over ₹6,500 Crore Cooperative
The Surat District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd. (SUMUL) is among Gujarat’s most influential dairy cooperatives, with an annual business turnover estimated at around ₹6,500 crore and a membership base of nearly 2.5 lakh milk producers across Surat and Tapi districts. The BJP has remained in control of the cooperative since 2015.
Election Results at a Glance
The final outcome of the SUMUL Dairy elections is as follows:
- BJP-backed Sahkar Panel: 15 seats
- Independent: 1 seat (Dhansukh Patel – Olpad)
The results reinforce BJP’s dominance in Gujarat’s cooperative sector while highlighting Dhansukh Patel’s significant independent victory from Olpad.
Several Candidates Elected Unopposed Before Polling
Even before voting day, multiple BJP-backed candidates had already secured victory unopposed after withdrawals by rival candidates. Initially, elections were scheduled for all 16 director positions. However, following withdrawals during the nomination process, only a limited number of constituencies eventually went to polling.
Dhansukh Patel Registers Independent Victory
One of the biggest highlights of the election was the victory of Dhansukh Patel from the Olpad seat.
Despite the BJP-backed panel’s sweeping performance across the board, Dhansukh Patel managed to secure his seat as an independent candidate, making him the only non-panel representative on the new SUMUL board. His win has attracted considerable attention within Surat’s cooperative sector.
Importance of SUMUL Dairy
SUMUL plays a crucial role in Gujarat’s dairy economy.
The cooperative:
- Procures milk from lakhs of farmers.
- Supports dairy producers across Surat and Tapi districts.
- Operates one of Gujarat’s largest milk-processing networks.
- Produces milk, butter, ghee, ice cream, paneer, and other dairy products.
Because of its financial strength and large rural membership, elections to the SUMUL board are considered politically significant.
Cooperative Sector Remains Politically Important
Cooperative institutions such as SUMUL continue to play an important role in Gujarat’s rural economy and local politics. Control over these institutions allows elected boards to oversee procurement, infrastructure expansion, dairy development, and welfare initiatives benefiting thousands of milk producers.
Conclusion
The SUMUL Dairy Elections 2026 concluded with a decisive victory for the BJP-backed Sahkar Panel, which captured 15 of the 16 seats on the board. Independent candidate Dhansukh Patel’s victory from Olpad stood out as the only exception, making him the sole independent representative in the newly elected governing body.
With the new board in place, attention will now shift toward future policy decisions, dairy expansion, and continued support for milk producers across Surat and Tapi districts.
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