News is that a majority of directors of the cooperative titan GCMMF have risen in revolt against present Chairman Vipul Chaudhary. As 14 out of 17 directors are not willing to accept Mr Chaudhary’s authority, they have moved a no confidence motion against him.
A knowledgeable source is quoted saying a requisition meeting of the directors will take place on 26th October where Chaudhary many face the music.
The sudden loss of confidence in Vipul is largely due to his greed, confides a Director to the Indian Cooperative on condition of anonymity. Vipul became the Chairman replacing the powerful Parthi Bhatol only due to Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s blessings. Modi was compelled to support him due to the consideration of vote bank.
But Chaudhary greed to grab NDDB’s top slot sent him hobnobbing with Congress leaders sending alarm bell in BJP camp.
Chaudhary’s meeting with Rahul Gandhi during his recent Gujarat visit had fueled speculation that Chaudhary would like to pull it off with the help of Congress leader Shankarsinh Baghela who had arranged his meeting with Rahul Gandhi.
There are a sizable number of voters from Chaudhary community in Sabarkantha and other districts of north Gujarat. Vaghela had facilitated the meeting between Chaudhary and Rahul Gandhi with a view to cater to the Chaudhary community voters in the region.
Word is that Baghela has already sent letters to Manmohan Singh and Sharad Pawar and begun garnering support for Chaudhary.
It is now only a matter of time when Chaudhary would ditch the BJP as he needs Congress’s support for getting the top job in NDDB, observers say.
NDDB’s present chairman Amrita Patel’s term expires next month. Patel, who has served the apex dairy board for 15 years, expressed her desire not to seek another term.
Knowledgeable source says that GCMMF present Chairman is not so innocent not to know the implication of his move. It is very much calculated where he hopes to grab the NDDB position on one hand and a status of a sought-after congress leader on the other, he added.
Tomorrow’s meeting would prove significant in this context.