The election for the NCUI Governing Council seat representing State Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) and Credit Societies Federations has emerged as one of the most closely watched contests. Veteran Karnataka cooperator H.K. Patil is locked in a direct battle with Sahakar Bharati leader Sunil Gupta.
The contest has attracted widespread attention because the electoral college comprises just eight voters, making every vote crucial.
According to cooperative circles, Patil appears to have three assured votes, his own, along with those of his proposer Vemireddy Narasimha Reddy, President of the Telangana State UCBs Federation, and his seconder Mallikarjun D. Mullur, Administrator of the Karnataka State Cooperative Credit Societies Federation.
Gupta is also believed to enjoy the backing of three committed votes. Besides his own, his proposer Sumit, Administrator-cum-Returning Officer of the Delhi State UCBs Federation, and his seconder Mahesh Patel of the Gujarat State Cooperative Credit Societies Federation are expected to support him.
This leaves two influential voters, NUCFDC Chairman Jyotindra Mehta and Maharashtra State Urban Cooperative Banks Federation Chairman Ajay Barmecha, holding the key to the outcome.
Since both leaders share cordial relations with Patil and Gupta, cooperative observers believe the result remains too close to call, making this one of the most unpredictable contests in the July 18 NCUI elections.
