The Janavikas Panel, led by Patil, had swept elections to the APMC board of directors held on April 21, bagging 11 out of the 16 seats. Patil was today elected as chairman for the second term.

Patil's panel defeated the Shetkari Vikas Panel led by former Congress MLA Malojirao Mogal. The Mogal Panel secured three seats, while the Gramvikas Panel bagged two seats. Sitaram Patil Holkar (director of the Nashik District Central Co-operative Bank), Nandkumar Daga (president of the Lasalgaon Merchants' Association) and Suresh Brahmacha (a leading grape-grower) were among those on the Mogal Panel who lost.

The Patil Panel's victory brought cheer to the Shiv Sena rank and file, as the election was considered to be an indicator of things to come in the Assembly polls.

The Lasalgaon APMC is the biggest onionmarketyard in the country, handling about four lakh tonnes of the commodity per year.

Meanwhile, the wholesale onion prices at the APMC today ranged from Rs 151 to Rs 591 per quintal, the average price being Rs 425 per quintal.