The elections for the Board of Directors of KRIBHCO, India’s second-largest fertilizer cooperative, officially commenced today. The process for filing nomination papers for 11 Board of Director seats has begun and will continue until December 20, 2024.
These elections are being conducted under the amended Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2022, with the South Delhi District Commissioner serving as the Returning Officer.
An analysis of the final voter list indicates that elections are expected to be unopposed in four to five constituencies, most of which represent State Cooperative Marketing Federations.
Among the probable winners are Dr. Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, the outgoing Chairman, Karnataka Minister K.N. Rajanna’s son R. Rajendra, GUJCOMASOL Vice-Chairman Bipin Patel, and senior cooperator Bijender Singh and Sahakar Bharati leader Rama Shankar Jaiswal, among others. Meanwhile, the fate of Biscomaun’s ousted Chairman, Sunil Kumar Singh, hangs in the balance.
The elections are scheduled for January 5, 2025, at the NCUI Auditorium in New Delhi. A total of 522 delegates across 11 constituencies will cast their votes to determine KRIBHCO’s new leadership. The final list of eligible delegates for the Representative General Body (RGB) election was published on Monday evening.
Preliminary reports suggest that elections will likely go unopposed in several constituencies, including Constituencies I to IV. Prominent candidates include R. Rajendra in Constituency I, Bipin Patel in Constituency II, Bijender Singh in Constituency III, and Rama Shankar Jaiswal in Constituency IV.
Name of Dr. Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, the outgoing Chairman, figures as delegate from two constituencies: Constituency XI, representing member societies holding shares valued at Rs 1 crore or more, and Constituency VI, representing member societies holding shares valued at less than Rs 5 lakh.
Constituency XI comprises 16 delegates, including outgoing Vice-Chairman Sudhakar Chowdary and outgoing director Bhikhabhai Patel. Insiders believe there is mutual respect among candidates in this constituency, making polling unlikely. In Constituency VI, which has 45 eligible delegates, Dr. Yadav is expected to secure an easy victory due to his stature and influence.
The situation in Constituencies V to XI, however, remains uncertain. The candidates for these seats will be revealed on December 24, 2024, when the final list of contesting candidates is published. Constituency VII, which has 211 eligible delegates from Gujarat holding shares valued between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 1 crore, is expected to witness the most intense competition and is being viewed as a key battleground.
Sunil Kumar Singh, a prominent cooperator and outgoing board director, is facing significant challenges this time around. Changes at Biscomaun have rendered him ineligible as a delegate, forcing him to seek representation from another constituency.
Singh is reportedly contesting from Constituency IX, which has 60 eligible delegates, primarily from Madhya Pradesh, along with smaller numbers from West Bengal, Bihar, and Maharashtra. Singh has secured a delegate position through the Maa Kalratri Phal Sabji Utpadak Swavlambi Sahakari Samiti, based in Saran, Bihar.
As the nomination period progresses, the political dynamics within KRIBHCO are expected to evolve. The final list of contesting candidates will determine the level of competition in the coming weeks. Polling will take place on January 5, 2025, with immediate vote counting. Results will be confirmed by the Cooperative Election Authority on January 7, 2025, and elections for office bearers, including the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, are set for January 9, 2025.
Dr. Chandra Pal Singh Yadav, the current Chairman, is ineligible for a third consecutive term under the rules of the amended MSCS Act. The KRIBHCO board is known for including representatives from diverse political affiliations, including the Samajwadi Party, BJP, Congress, and RJD. In the fiscal year 2023-24, KRIBHCO recorded a significant gross profit of Rs 334 crore, reflecting the cooperative’s continued financial strength and strategic leadership.