FOLLOWING the postponement of the elections for the Board of Directors of the Kalmeshwar Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court had directed the State Government to reach a decision regarding an extension for the incumbent Board by October 22. The Court further clarified that the proposal submitted by the Market Committee should be considered in accordance with the law, and that all affected parties must be given an opportunity to present their views. The matter was heard before Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Rajnish Vyas. However, on October 19, at 4 pm, the State Government took a sudden, abrupt decision to remove the existing Board of Directors of the Kalmeshwar APMC and appointed Milind Bhalerao, the Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies for Kalmeshwar, as the Administrator of the Market Committee for a period of six months, or until the elections are held.

 

It is being suggested that this appointment of an Administrator is the result of political manoeuvring, even though an extension for the Board of Directors was warranted—especially given the drought-like conditions in the State, the hardships faced by farmers, and the current market price situation. It is noted that the Market Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Baba Patil and the Board of Directors, has been managed exceptionally well and remains profitable. Milind Bhalerao, an official from the Cooperative Societies Department, has been appointed as the administrator of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), Kalmeshwar, for a period of six months—or until the next elections—following the removal of the incumbent Board of Directors.