GCMMF board accepts Dr Kurien's resignation

Anand, Mar 24 (UNI) Drawing the curtain on Dr Verghese Kurien's three-decade old reign as head of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the board of the federation today accepted his resignation from the post of chairman.

In a meeting held here, the board of directors accepted the resignation, which Dr Kurien had tendered on March 20. He stayed away from the meeting, even though he cancelled his trip to Chennai, where he was to address a memorial lecture.

Dr Kurien (84) had announced his resignation, saying that he was doing so in deference to the Gujarat High Court order barring prohibition of the inclusion of any co-opted members in the executive committee of the cooperative bodies.

Emerging after a two-and-a-half hour board meeting, Kheda Dairy Cooperative Federation Chairman Ramsinh Parmar, a front-runner for the GCMMF chairman post, said Dr Kurien will be felicitated for his contribution to the dairy cooperative movement in the state and for helping GCMMF emerge as the largest food products' marketing organisation with an annual turnover of Rs 36000 crores.

Immediately after the marathon board meeting, a letter was sent to the Anand District Collector by Federation Managing Director B M Vyas requesting him to announce an election schedule for the GCMMF chairman's post.

Mr Parmar said the process for election of a new chairman had been initiated and should be completed within a week.

The meeting was attended by all the 12 district dairy cooperative producers' union chairmen, who constitute the GCMMF board of directors.

Mr Vyas was authorised to carry on its day-to-day activities of the federation, till the election process is over.

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