One of the most dramatic contests in the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) Governing Council elections ended in a rare draw of lots after veteran Karnataka cooperator H.K. Patil and Sahakar Bharati leader Sunil Gupta finished tied with four votes each in the constituency representing State Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) and Credit Societies Federations.
The contest had attracted considerable attention even before polling, as the electoral college comprised only eight voters, making every vote crucial.
Cooperative circles had predicted an evenly balanced contest, with both candidates believed to have three committed votes each, while the remaining two electors were expected to decide the outcome.
The final tally vindicated those predictions, with Patil and Gupta securing four votes apiece. As the election rules provide for resolving a tie through a draw of lots, the Returning Officer conducted the process, and fortune smiled on H.K. Patil, whose name was drawn, declaring him elected to the NCUI Governing Council.
The cliffhanger finish made it one of the most closely watched and talked-about contests of the 2026 NCUI elections, highlighting how every single vote mattered in the eight-member electoral college.
