It is being seen as the end of the saffron era in the politically powerful Saurashtra Oil Millers Association (SOMA). A rift in the BJP last year was the reason why SOMA saw an election after 13 years. The association’s election was last held in 1995.

Congress supporter Ukabhai Patel on Saturday won the SOMA election, defeating BJP supporter Savji Patel. Ukabhai has maintained the post for the 13th consecutive year.

The election results signalled the inroads of the Congress in the SOMA board, which was one of the strongest BJP body, given the party’s stronghold in Saurashtra.

SOMA was formed in 1948 and has been a major source of funding for the political parties in Saurashtra. The majority of the members belong to the Patel community and the association has had a major contribution in the rise of the BJP and the formation of its first government with Keshubhai Patel as the Chief Minister.

Mostly, the 210 members of SOMA chose their leader unanimously. This time, Ukabhai secured 110 votes and Savji Patel, a miller from Jamnagar managed only 86 votes. One vote was disqualified.

Of the total 1,300 mills, 750 are located in various districts of Saurashtra-Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Amreli and Surendranagar.

The rift in the BJP led to the formation of the Sardar Patel Utkarsh Samiti (SPUS) last year by the party rebels. While Ukabhai Patel openly came out in support of the Congress and the rebels BJP, many other members remained loyal to the saffron brigade. Incidentally, Ukabhai actively participated in the anti-Narendra Modi campaign with SPUS in the run-up to the 2007 Assembly elections.

Vithal Radadia, the Congress MLA from Dhoraji-Jamkandorna, who wields the maximum clout in Saurashtra, supported Ukabhai’s candidature, while a host of other BJP leaders, including state chief Pushottam Rupala, Rajya Sabha Member Vijay Rupani and Jamnagar MLA Vasuben Trivedi, lobbied hard for Savji Patel.

Ukabhai told Newsline after his win: “The results prove that the millers are fed up with the BJP government.” He denied that the association will encourage politics. “We will help our friends but will not support any political party in particular,” he said.