In an election marked by silent campaigning Chairman of NCCF Virendra Singh has emerged winner beating his rival Harbhajan Singh in a convincing manner.
There were about 1000 votes in which about 496 votes where cast. Virendra Singh got 485 votes while his rival got only 11 votes. Announcing his victory BK Saha,Chairman of CWC welcomed him once again to the fold of CWC Board.
Talking to Indian Cooperative .com Virendra Singh told that it was a very tough election as societies are spread from Kashmir to Kanya Kumari. I had decided not to fight as we are planning big role for NCCF in coming days. But my friends in CWC wanted me to fight, added a beaming Singh.
Harbhajan Singh is said to be a protégé of former union agriculture Minister Balram Jakher while Virendra Singh comes from the party of present agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. Virendra Singh also happens to be Chairman of NCCF, apex body of consumer cooperatives and is said to be close to Sharad Pawar.
CWC is a Public Sector Undertaking but has one representative from the cooperatives. It has a board of 15-16 members and is dominated by IAS officials followed by high profile Bankers. Giving cooperatives its due, one seat is allotted to cooperative sector.
There are 1007 votes spread across Indian states with the maximum representatives coming from UP. Only primary cooperative societies are its members. Both the leaders Harbhajan based in Punjab and Virendra in Mumbai were camping in Delhi since 30th October.
Talking to Indian cooperative Harbhajan Singh alleged that Virendra Singh has taken help of Sharad Pawar to influence voters. The votes coming by post are being included even after the due date (4th October) has lapsed, added Harbhajan.
Harbhajan claims that postal votes should be opened before the contestants which have not been done. Refuting Harbhajan’s charges Virendra Singh claims that unlike cooperatives the elections in CWC takes place under strict supervision and in many cases Harbhajan has got fake papers of support from the societies.