Baroda Dairy Acting Chairman Resigns Amid Accusations of Malpractice

Vice-chairman and acting chairman of Baroda Dairy G B Solanki quit late on Wednesday night, a month after dissident BJP leader Dinesh Patel resigned from his position as chairman of the company after running unsuccessfully as an Independent in the Gujarat Assembly elections.

Satish Patel, the recently appointed president of the BJP's Vadodara district branch, stood by Solanki's side as he announced his resignation, while Solanki stated that he did so to put an end to the chaos that some individuals had caused, allowing the dairy to operate to its full potential.

The latter added that he has spent the previous 20 years serving as a governor for Baroda Dairy. We have witnessed the dairy industry expand greatly over the last 20 years. However, the work is being hampered by the recent mudslinging against the farm.

“In my opinion, it is in the best interests of everyone for me to retire if it can improve how the dairy operates. I'm giving up my position as vice-chairman and my duties as interim chairman, but I'll still be a director,” he added.

Days after BJP MLA Ketan Inamdar sat in protest outside the Baroda Dairy, Solanki tendered his retirement. Inamdar claims there have been irregularities in the dairy's operations and accuses the board and the head of engaging in Rs 48 lakh worth of corruption.

Inamdar, who has been accusing Baroda Dairy of mismanagement since 2021, made the claim in a public statement. He claimed that the Baroda Dairy board had also allegedly approved an unnecessary change in the electric load of the chilling plant in Bodeli, Chhota Udepur district, which resulted in a loss of Rs 49 lakh, as well as alleged corruption totaling Rs 37.27 lakhs in the purchase of manufacturing equipment for cheese spread.

Meanwhile, last week, the Baroda Dairy Workers Union sent a memorandum to the district collector requesting caution against those defaming Baroda Dairy and its staff.