The Cooperative Election Authority (CEA) has formally approved the election results for five seats in the Group-II constituency of the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) Governing Council, taking the long-pending NCUI election process a step forward.
In an order on Tuesday, the CEA approved the recommendations of Returning Officer Lakshay Singhal, IAS, for the five elected members.
The five elected members are IFFCO Chairman Dileep Sanghani, NAFED Director Mohan Bhai Kundariya, KRIBHCO Director Bipin Bhai Patel, NCCF Chairman Vishal Singh and NDDB Chairman Meenesh Shah.
Vishal Singh topped the polling with 11 votes, followed by Dileep Sanghani with 10 votes and Mohan Bhai Kundariya with nine votes. Bipin Patel and Meenesh Shah secured eight votes each. One vote was rejected during counting.
The election was held on July 18, with all 16 eligible voters casting their votes. However, votes cast by National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) and Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) were kept in a sealed envelope/box and excluded from consideration, in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions.
The CEA’s approval comes shortly after the Supreme Court dismissed as infructuous the petitions concerning the NCUI Governing Council election, observing that the Special Leave Petitions had become infructuous “by the passage of time”, while keeping the questions of law open.
The CEA has directed that the election results be displayed prominently on the NCUI website and notice board. It has also clarified that the election programme for NCUI office-bearers will be issued separately.
With the five Group-II seats now formally approved, the Governing Council election process has moved closer to completion. However, the CEA has not yet announced the date or schedule for the election of office-bearers, including the President and Vice President.
