Suresh elected BAMUL president unopposed

Bengaluru: Former Bangalore Rural MP and Congress leader D K Suresh was unanimously elected as the new president of the Bangalore Milk Union Limited (BAMUL) on Thursday. 

Suresh’s victory in this election is seen as a political revival after his loss in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to BJP’s Dr  C N Manjunath, brother-in-law of Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy. The official announcement in this regard is yet to be made. 

The election was conducted at BAMUL headquarters at the Dairy Circle. With no other nomination papers filed, Suresh claimed that he was declared elected unopposed.

Later, speaking to reporters, he also confirmed that Kudur Manjunath, a Congress-backed candidate from Magadi, was chosen as Bamul’s vice president. 

The Bamul board comprises 16 members — including 12 elected directors, two nominated by the state government, and two others elected unopposed. Of these, 11 are aligned with the ruling Congress party, giving the party a clear upper hand in the union’s leadership.

The influence of Bamul extends across multiple Vokkaliga-majority districts in southern Karnataka, where dairy farming plays a vital role in the local economy.

Belonging to the Vokkaliga community, the DK brothers (Shivakumar and Suresh) are poised to strengthen their support in these regions and expand their sway within both political and cooperative circles. 

Following his election, Suresh thanked the party leaders, supporters, and the farming community.

“While political parties do play a role in cooperative polls, I am deeply thankful to the farmers for placing their trust in us,” he said.

“This is a victory for them. I am committed to ensuring their welfare through practical reforms and sustainable practices.”

One of the new president’s immediate goals is to expand eco-friendly milk packaging, which was successfully piloted in Kanakapura.

He plans to roll out the initiative across Bamul and, in phases, across the state.

After winning Bamul, Suresh is being seen as a front-runner for the upcoming Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) elections, slated for early July. A victory there would significantly amplify the DK brothers’ reach across the state’s powerful cooperative and rural networks.