The election for the Board of Directors of Bihar’s marketing cooperative body, Biscomaun, originally scheduled for January 16, 2025, has been postponed once again to January 24, 2025. This rescheduling has reignited an intense phase of campaigning, with the two factions being led by outgoing Chairman Sunil Kumar Singh and Vishal Singh, respectively.
Releasing a revised election schedule, the Cooperative Election Authority under the Union Ministry of Cooperation stated: “The issuance of the election programme under Rule 19R of the MSCS rules is due to the death of a candidate in the election.”
It is worth mentioning that a candidate, Vishnudeo Rai, who had filed his nomination papers to contest the elections for the board of directors of Biscomaun, tragically passed away. This unfortunate incident is the primary reason for the postponement of the Biscomaun elections this time.
While Sunil Kumar Singh has maintained a firm grip on state cooperators so far, sources suggest that the emergence of Vishal Singh on the scene has somewhat unsettled him. The stakes are high, with 269 eligible voters set to determine the outcome of the contest on January 24, 2025. Of these, 182 voters are from Bihar, while the remaining 87 hail from Jharkhand.
Sunil Kumar Singh, a veteran in cooperative circles, recently served on the boards of Kribhco and Nafed, earning widespread recognition for his leadership and management skills. On the other hand, Vishal Singh, the son of the late Ajit Singh, a legendary cooperator in Bihar, brings his legacy to the table as the current Chairman of the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF).
It is being said that several seasoned cooperators, previously aligned with Sunil Kumar Singh, have now switched their loyalties to Vishal Singh’s camp. Among the prominent defectors are Gopalganj DCCB Chairman Mahesh Rai, Madhubani cooperator Navendra Jha, Chhapra cooperator Dinesh Singh, Munger Janai DCCB Chairman’s daughter Nisha Kumar, and others.
While campaigning is in full swing, discussions among cooperative circles suggest that Sunil Kumar Singh’s panel might have an edge over Vishal Singh’s. However, these assumptions are far from definitive, and the actual outcome will only become apparent on election day. Both leaders are reportedly working tirelessly, employing various strategies to secure voter support.
According to the revised election schedule, candidates can file their nomination papers between January 15 and 16, 2025. The publication of the list of valid nominations will occur on January 17, 2025. Candidates can withdraw their names on January 18, 2025, with the final list of contesting candidates published on the same day.
Polling will take place on January 24, 2025, and the counting of votes will be conducted immediately afterward. The declaration of the results for the board of directors will occur on January 27, 2025, after receiving approval from the Cooperative Election Authority.
Subsequently, the meeting of the newly constituted board and the publication of the list of valid nominations for the office bearers’ election will take place on January 30, 2025. The declaration of results for the election of office bearers will follow, subject to approval from the Cooperative Election Authority.
