Amul chairman's fate to be decided today

Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which owns and markets Amul brand of milk and milk products in India, is likely to witness a stormy meeting tomorrow when the 13 board members of the federation will assemble to discuss the no-confidence motion moved against its chairman Parthi Bhatol.

GCMMF, the apex marketing body of all 13 co-operative dairies in Gujarat, has been gripped in a major controversy over issue of chairmanship since last six months or so. After three failed efforts to dethrone Bhatol, as many as 10 board members had moved a no-confidence motion against the chairman last week and a requsite meeting was convened on 21 August to discuss the no-trust motion.

Ironically the father of White Revolution in the country, Verghese Kurien, who was replaced by Bhatol, had to step down in 2006 amid threats of no-confidence motion and Bhatol was one of them who ganged up for the ouster of Kurien.

Unlike Kurien, Bhatol is not ready to surrender his post. His resistance to give up the control over GCMMF could be gauged from the fact he had managed to scuttle a special board meeting in June through political intervention.

“We have been demanding Bhatol's resignation since last six months. A total of three meeting have been called off so far. But this time voting will take place and he (Bhatol) will be asked to step down,” said a member of the rebel camp on the condition of anonymity.

It may be mention here that GCMMF could not hold its annual general meeting (AGM) for months as many board members refrained from attending the meetings to for pitch their demand for Bhatol's resignation.

“As demanded by the majority of board members, there will be a meeting on Saturday to oust me and I will give a tough fight against their demand,” said Bhatol.