The Chairman of Nafed is going to be elected today. The choice of a consensus candidate has proved elusive for the top brass of the agri-cooperative till the publishing of this news.
It is learnt that the new government has begun to take interest in having its pie in the cake. One of the government nominees Mr Ashok Thakur is said have to thrown his hat in the ring. He is said to have the backing of Union Home Minister and the BJP heavyweight Rajnath Singh.
Unconfirmed sources say the new government has promised to revive the ailing cooperative if its nominee Mr Thakur is made the Chairman. But whether the troika of Bijender-Chandra Pal- V R Bagchi would agree is the million dollar question.
Meanwhile, the effort to place Vishal Singh at the top post has also met resistance from various quarters. It is said that Union Agriculture and Cooperation Minister Mr Radha Mohan Singh has Vishal’s dossiers at his desk even before the poor guy has got anything.
It is also learnt that Chandra Pal Singh, one of the prime movers and NCUI President has threatened to resign should any tainted leader is made the Chairman. He has already expressed his strong reservation on the issue, talking to Indian Cooperative sometimes back.
Shri Chandra Pal Singh Yadav and Bijender Singh are seen as very close to each other as they can be sighted together in most of the cooperative gatherings in Delhi and at other places. Bijender’s softness for Vishal and Chandra Pal’s insistence on not allowing any tainted leader has potential of introducing a distance between the two friends.
Meanwhile, C V Holkar and Mr Dang who have been left high and dry, complain of being cheated by the core team. As has been the tradition with the Nafed, all Directors submit withdrawal forms while filing their nominations. This is to display unity of the team. Holkar and Dang’s withdrawal forms were submitted to the Returning Officer by the core group thereby showing them the door.
Coming to the issue of Chairmanship, besides Joon and Vishal, the name of VR Patel has also surfaced. Sources say he may emerge as the consensus candidate. Bagchi is a trusted aide of Chandra Pal Singh, though he is also seen as close to the outgoing Chairman Bijender Singh.
The Nafed leadership is fighting a two-progned battle- one from within and a second from the likes of Rajnaths and Radha Mohans. By the afternoon cloud will clear. Watch these lines to see if the Nafed remains the bastion of the old guard or an entirely new leadership with new culture and values takes over.
The duo of Chandra Pal and Bijender Singh has succeeded in keeping Ashok Thakur at arm’s lengh