One of the most keenly watched contests in the NCUI Governing Council elections is for the seat representing State-level Cooperative Federations and Associations from Western and Southern India.
The election has become a major talking point in cooperative circles, with three candidates in the fray, Maharashtra State Cooperative Labour Federation Chairman Sanjiv Kushalkar, former BJP MP and senior Karnataka cooperator Annasaheb Jolle, and Amreli-based young cooperator Manish Sanghani.
However, there is strong speculation that Sanghani may withdraw, setting the stage for a straight contest between Kushalkar and Jolle. Both are considered influential leaders in the cooperative movement.
While Kushalkar is a prominent face of Maharashtra’s labour cooperative sector, Jolle is a veteran cooperator from Karnataka and is widely seen as the Sahakar Bharati-backed candidate.
Speaking to the Indian Cooperative, Kushalkar ruled out any possibility of withdrawal. “I have been serving the cooperative movement for 25 years. Despite calls from several senior leaders, I will not withdraw my nomination. I am contesting the election with full confidence and am sure of my victory,” he said.
Jolle, too, has made it clear that he is firmly in the race and confident of winning.
If the electoral arithmetic is taken into account, the constituency has a total of 22 electors. Gujarat has the highest representation with six votes, followed by Karnataka with four and Maharashtra with three. The remaining nine votes are spread across Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Odisha and a few other states, making the contest too close to call.
