In a setback to the BJP, the Bombay High Court’s Kolhapur Bench has set aside the acceptance of MLA Gopichand Padalkar’s nomination for the Sangli District Central Cooperative Bank (DCCB) elections, declaring his candidature invalid, according to a media report.
The legal challenge was initiated by former Congress MLA Vikramsinh Sawant and former Market Committee Chairman Sujay Shinde, who questioned Padalkar’s eligibility to contest from the Jat A Society constituency.
According to the report, the petitioners raised questions over the validity of his society membership, particularly in view of his land purchase at Kunikonnur on February 20, 2026. They also questioned whether his membership and directorship experience in Nimbavade Credit Society, whose operational area is reportedly limited to a single village, qualified him to contest the district bank election.
Although the Returning Officer had initially accepted his nomination, the High Court subsequently overturned the decision.
Reacting to the verdict, Sawant said he had faith in the judiciary and expressed satisfaction over the outcome.
The election reportedly involves 2,445 voters representing various cooperative sectors.
