With the provisional list of delegates for the National Co-operative Union of India (NCUI) elections scheduled to be published tomorrow (Friday) evening, intense lobbying and political manoeuvring are underway ahead of the elections to the apex body’s Governing Council.
Those who appear certain to secure a berth on the Governing Council of the apex cooperative body include G. H. Amin and Sunil Khatri.
Indian Cooperative has learnt that several prominent co-operative leaders, including Dileep Sanghani, Ajay Patel, Mohan Kundariya, H.K. Patil, Bipin Patel, G.H. Amin, Sunil Khatri, D.N. Thakur, Deepak Chaurasia and Uday Joshi, have filed nominations as delegates. A majority of them are expected to make it to the final list and subsequently emerge as strong contenders for seats on the Governing Council.
It is further learnt that out of the 20 seats on the NCUI Governing Council, nearly half a dozen may witness unopposed elections.
This year’s election has witnessed unprecedented mobilisation by Sahakar Bharati and BJP-backed co-operative leaders, who are leaving no stone unturned to secure a majority on the governing board of the apex co-operative body.
According to insiders, more than 100 Sahakar Bharati workers travelled from different parts of the country, many by air, to facilitate delegate nominations. A significant number of them are understood to have come from Uttar Pradesh.
One of the most interesting developments is the apparent absence, at least so far, of veteran co-operative leaders Chandra Pal Singh Yadav and Bijendra Singh, who have traditionally entered the NCUI electoral arena through KRIBHCO and NAFED, respectively.
This time, however, Bipin Patel has emerged as the delegate nominee from KRIBHCO, while Mohan Kundariya has entered the fray through NAFED. The provisional list is expected to reveal whether Chandra Pal Singh Yadav and Bijendra Singh have filed delegate nominations through any other route.
In the category reserved for State and Union Territory Co-operative Unions, Sunil Khatri (Delhi Co-operative Union) and G.H. Amin (Gujarat State Co-operative Union) are understood to have filed delegate nominations. Their prospects appear particularly strong as, in several cases, there are either no other eligible unions in the constituency or the concerned unions are under administrative control.
Among other prominent names, H.K. Patil has filed his nomination as a delegate from NAFCUB, while IFFCO Chairman Dileep Sanghani has also entered the fray as a delegate. Ajay Patel has filed his nomination through COBI.
Within co-operative circles, there is a growing perception that Dileep Sanghani faces little resistance in his bid for another term as NCUI President. With support appearing to consolidate around him, attention is now shifting towards the composition of the Governing Council and the emergence of the next leadership team.
With the delegate list set to be published on Friday evening, all eyes are now on whether the emerging alignments translate into control of the NCUI Governing Council and, ultimately, the presidency of the apex co-operative body.
(With inputs from Rohit Gupta, Principal Correspondent)