Veteran cooperator and Gujarat State Cooperative Bank Chairman Ajay Patel has been elected unopposed as the senior vice-president of Indian Olympic Association (IOA), in an election held on Saturday. PT Usha, was elected unopposed as the first woman president of the IOA.
Patel is also the Chairman of Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank and is involved in sports associations, primarily as president of Gujarat State Chess Association and vice president of the National Rifle Association.
Soon after the elections, cooperators and others lost no time in congratulating him on his victory.
Patel was born on 9 February 1962, in Ahmedabad. Born to a humble family who owned an electrical shop, Patel completed his schooling in Diwan-Ballubhai School, and did his bachelor’s degree in Civil engineering from Lalbhai Dalpatbhai College of Engineering.
He has been honoured with Kribhco’s Sahkarita Shiromani Award for his contributions to the cooperative movement.
Interestingly, Patel is close to Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah as they are said to have together strengthened BJP roots in the state.