ANAND: Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) has found a replacement for milkman Verghese Kurien. Parthi Bhatol, 62-year-old chairman of Banaskantha District Cooperative Milk Producers Union (DCMPU) Ltd., took over as GCMMF chairman on Wednesday.
In a stormy meeting held at Anand, four members of GCMMF complained of government interference and walked out of the board meeting clearly, indicating a deep rift among the board members. Amid strict police vigilance at the GCMMF headquarter, the remaining eight members unanimously voted Parthi Bhatol.
Ramsinh Parmar of Kaira, one of the members who walked out, said, "We have been ditched by our board members. How can they meet at Circuit House in Gandhinagar to name a chairman, despite a decision on April 21, among all members to meet at GCMMF a day before election so that an unanimous decision can be taken."
Expressing his commitment, Bhatol said the federation would be run by consultation with everyone. Bhatol is believed to be an ally of Amrita Patel, chairman of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Kurien' detractor.
Talking to DNA, Kurien said: "Its good GCMMF got a new chairman. You can't have a lifetime chairman to run the co-operative. With my appointment as an advisor to the largest milk body Mehsana Union, I will be able remain in touch with the sector."
Meanwhile, experts in the co-operative sector are apprehensive about the future of GCMMF in absence of Kurien. The GCMMF board now consisting of only politicians is likely to uproot the values practiced by Kurien for over three decades, they fear.
Bhatol, who has the blessings of the Modi government, will have a tough time to manage the co-operative empire.
"Bhatol is a thorough co-operative sector man hence it will be difficult for him to manage politicians with narrow and individual agenda. Now, he will have to do a great deal of balancing act to keep the integrity intact among the GCMMF board members," said a veteran in the co-operative sector.
