The results of the elections of Delhi State Cooperative Union held on Sunday, proved once again that the old guards of co-ops continue to call shots. NCUI Governing Council member and Supreme Court Advocate V P Singh once again emerged victorious.
This time Nafed Government Nominee Ashok Thakur pitched in along with state Sahakar Bharati (Delhi Chapter). They did put up a brave fight but at the end they lost, though with small margins.
Leading the Sahakar Bharati panel was state President Avdesh Tyagi, Ashok Thakur and many others canvassed for the candidates of Sahakar Bharati panel but all efforts went in vain as they felt to weaken the grip of senior Supreme Court advocate VP Singh on the state co-op union.
V P Singh and his close associate Sukhbir Singh were declared elected once again as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Delhi State Cooperative Union respectively. It bears recall that for the last 20 years there has been no voting as the team of Singh have been getting re-elected unopposed again and again. This time also the elections were held only three seats from the Credit Co-op category.
The Union board consists of 15 directors and the elections were held on three seats, which are part of credit cooperatives. For these six candidates were in the race. The candidates from Sahakar Bharati panel includes Anil Kumar Mathur, Pravesh Gupta and Sunil Gupta. Those from VP Singh panel were Dinesh Vashisht, Sunil Garg and RP Sahoo.
A retired officer of Delhi Registrar of Cooperative Society, Tarun Kumar was the Returning officer. RSS affiliated organization Sahakar Bharati got defeated with about 10 votes. Meanwhile, the leaders of Sahakar Bharati have complained that the state co-op union hardly does anything. It keeps neglecting the interest of weaker co-ops of the state, they allege.
The office of Delhi State Cooperative Union is located in Daryanganj with the headquarters of Delhi State Cooperative Bank. Former MLA and NCUI Vice-President Bijendra Singh is its Chairman.