In a dramatic turn of events, outgoing BISCOMAUN Chairman Sunil Singh reclaimed his position after a contentious recount, sparking jubilant celebrations among his supporters.
As soon as the recount confirmed his victory, his supporters lifted him triumphantly, chanting slogans that hailed his resilience and indomitable spirit. A visibly emotional Sunil Singh remarked, “Truth may face hardships, but it always prevails.”
The recount was ordered by the Returning Officer, Patna District Magistrate, following petitions from candidates who had lost by razor-thin margins—some by just one or two votes.
The Election Authority, under the Ministry of Cooperation, scheduled the recount for February 1, 2025, at Shri Krishna Memorial Hall in Patna. This decision came after the original election held on January 24, 2025, where Sunil Singh, representing the RJD, had initially secured victory over his rival panel led by NCCF Chairman and BJP leader Vishal Singh.
Reacting to the results, the rival camp led by Vishal Singh stated that Sunil Singh should now stop blaming the government and vilifying officials at both the state and central levels. “If the government’s intentions were biased, would Sunil have won?” they questioned, suggesting that his victory disproves his earlier allegations of interference.
They argued that the recount was a legitimate process, initiated due to candidates losing by narrow margins, and not influenced by any external pressure. “It took us days to convince the Election Authority for a recount. Had Sunil’s candidates lost by such slim margins, he would’ve demanded the same,” Vishal added, emphasizing that dragging the government into cooperative matters harms the integrity of the cooperative movement.
The recount, however, had reignited tensions. Sunil Singh criticized the Cooperative Election Authority (CEA), raising concerns about its credibility and alleging attempts to overturn his win.
As the dust settles on the recount, Bihar’s cooperative landscape remains tense, with the saga exposing deep divisions. However, with the results now finalized, it is expected that tensions will ease, and the cooperative development process will get back on track.
