Tejash Patel, Chairman of Gujarat State Cooperative Tobacco Growers Federation who hogged the media headlines, has finally withdrawn from the race of Nafed elections, bringing relief for Dr Chandra Pal Singh Yadav.
Not clearly saying as to why he withdrew Patel said it was a command from the party. He did not explain further on the issue while talking to the Indian Cooperative.
As far as the Gujarat Cooperative Sector is concerned, Patel is a popular leader among cooperators wielding considerable influence in his Kaira district. Earlier, Patel looked confident on securing a berth on the board of Nafed and told the Indian Cooperative.com correspondent, “This is the time to give a warm send off to old timers, who are on the Nafed board for a long time. I am sure that I will win the board election with comfortable margins”, he said.
However, informed sources say even if he had contested, Chandra Pal Singh Yadav had majority voters out of 13 in his support.
Patel is the Chairman of Kaira District Cooperative Bank and also on the board of Gujarat State Cooperative Bank, Gujcomasol, Jamnagar District Cooperative Bank, Piplav Service Cooperative Society, Piplav Tobacco Producer Cooperative Societies.
Patel was on the board of Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers Union (Amul Dairy), Anand as well as RGB member of IFFCO and Kribhco.