Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil may head Maharashtra Cooperative bank

Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former state minister Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil is likely to be the new Chairman of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank, party sources said.

"The party values his services and may utilise his expertise in the cooperative sector," the sources said.

The development comes in the wake of recent reports that Mohite-Patil was on way to joining Congress after he was denied a Cabinet berth following his defeat in the October 13 Assembly election.

Mohite-Patil, however, denied any such plans. "I am with NCP and have no plans of joining Congress," he told PTI. "I have clarified my position earlier also," he added.

After his Malshiras seat became reserved for schedule castes, Mohite-Patil was asked to fight from Pandharpur constituency but lost the poll. Asked about the ensuing MSC Bank polls, he said, "it is for the party to decide... let us see."

"A meeting was held recently to discus the MSC Bank polls and was attended by senior leaders including state NCP chief Madhukar Pichad, Ajit Pawar and Mohite-Patil," sources said.

The bank has been the traditional stronghold of Congress-NCP. Mohite-Patil is now a member of the board of directors of the bank.

The MSCB is the apex co-operative bank in the state since 1954 and has initiated major schemes for the co-operative banking sector in India. It has been helping agricultural credit co-operatives and agricultural processing co-operatives.

The bank provides re-finance facility to District Central Co-operative Banks which cater to agricultural sector.

It also promotes finance to artisans, agro-industrial co-operatives especially sugar factories, spinning mills by providing medium term loans as well as interim loans.