Gujarat Assembly Speaker and BJP MLA from Tharad, Shankar Chaudhary, has been re-elected unopposed as the Chairman of Banas Dairy, Asia’s largest dairy cooperative, marking his third consecutive term. The dairy’s board of directors also appointed Bhavabhai Rabari as Vice-Chairman. Both will serve a two-and-a-half-year tenure.
Of the 16 board seats, 15 were filled unopposed, while the Danta seat witnessed a brief contest before the BJP-backed candidate secured victory. Following the results, the newly constituted board unanimously re-elected Chaudhary and Rabari to lead the cooperative.
Expressing gratitude to the 3.76 lakh member farmers, Chaudhary credited them for Banas Dairy’s remarkable growth. “With the cooperation of millions of cattle farmers, Banas Dairy has reached new heights. Our goal is to position it at the global level,” he said.
Founded by the late Galabhai Nanjibhai Patel, Banas Dairy has expanded its footprint across eight states, empowering rural communities, particularly women. With an annual turnover exceeding ₹20,000 crore, the dairy deposits ₹35 crore daily into farmers’ accounts. Under Chaudhary’s leadership, the cooperative has advanced digital transformation, launched a ‘sweet revolution’ by producing 350 tonnes of honey, and helped establish India’s first medical college run by cattle rearers.
A five-time MLA and influential OBC leader, Chaudhary has previously served as Minister of State, State BJP Yuva Morcha President, and General Secretary. His re-election signals continued focus on cooperative strength, innovation, digital integration, and farmer welfare, reinforcing Banas Dairy’s pivotal role in India’s dairy ecosystem.