In a significant development for one of India's most iconic dairy cooperatives, the Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union, popularly known as Amul Dairy, has finally elected its new Chairman and Vice-Chairman. The election, held on Monday, comes 94 days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) established a historic first-time majority in the union's board of directors.
A Delayed Decision Culminates in Unopposed Elections
The announcement on Monday marked the conclusion of a prolonged process that began with the Amul Dairy polls on September 10. The results for the eight blocks and one individual member seat were declared on September 12, revealing a decisive victory for the BJP. However, the election for the top posts was delayed for over three months.
Following the party's mandate, Shabhesinh Parmar from the Virpur block was elected unopposed as the Chairman. Simultaneously, Vijay Patel was elected unopposed as the Vice-Chairman. The elections were conducted among the 11 members of the newly constituted Board of Directors.
Surprise Choice and Political Dynamics
The selection of Shabhesinh Parmar, a retired army man, came as a surprise to many within the board. He was chosen over other prominent front-runners from the BJP, who were initially considered strong contenders for the chairman's post.
The list of expected candidates included:
- Priya Parmar, daughter of former Chairman Ramsinh Parmar, whose shift from Congress to BJP in 2017 significantly impacted the political landscape of the dairy.
- Vipul Patel, another former Chairman of the union.
- Rajesh Pathak from the Balasinor block, who is credited with playing a key role in the BJP's resounding victory in the September elections.
Interestingly, Pathak, Priya Parmar, and Shabhesinh Parmar were among the four BJP candidates who had won their respective block elections unopposed back in September from Balasinor, Thasra, and Virpur.
New Leadership's Vision and Historic BJP Majority
After assuming his new role, Chairman Shabhesinh Parmar acknowledged the significance of his appointment. "It is for the first time that Virpur block has been given the Chairman’s post," he stated. He pledged to treat the position as a "full responsibility" and committed to working for the dairy's development during his two-and-a-half-year tenure.
Vice-Chairman Vijay Patel, who was separately elected as an individual member in September by a margin of just one vote, emphasized unity. He highlighted the responsibility of leading a globally recognized cooperative like Amul and stated the new board's aim would be to work collectively for the welfare of cattle farmers, taking them into confidence.
The backdrop to this leadership change is the BJP's unprecedented performance in the September elections. The party scripted history by winning seven out of the nine blocks that went to polls. With four candidates already elected unopposed earlier, the BJP gained control of 11 out of the total 13 blocks (including the individual member seat), securing a complete majority for the first time ever. The Congress managed to retain only two blocks—Borsad and Kapadvanj—by narrow margins of 12 and 11 votes, respectively.
The election of the new leadership formally completes the transition of power in the influential dairy cooperative, setting the stage for its future direction under the BJP's dominant board.
