Kurien decides to step down as IRMA chairman

With Verghese Kurien deciding to step down as chairman of the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) on Thursday, murmurs are growing louder about his bete noir Amrita Patel, the current chairman of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), taking over.

"Today, I announce my decision to resign from the chairmanship of IRMA Board of Governors. I will be sending my resignation when the IRMA board meets on June 8," he said in a written statement given to the media on Monday.

A source told Business Standard that Kurien would not attend the meeting of the board of directors on June 8.

He added that Amrita Patel could be a possible successor. Kurien's decision to step down was advised by his well-wishers a few days ago.

He had resigned from the chairmanship of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) last month after being its founder and chairman for 32 years.

Things were not getting any better for the 84-year-old chairman who revolutionised the co-operative movement. Last month, following a Gujarat High Court order, Kurien had to accept again five co-opted board members, a step he had earlier opposed.

In last year's board meeting, Kurien had refused entry to four of the five members into IRMA premises and they were made to sit outside the gate.

When Business Standard spoke to L K Vaswani, director of IRMA, he said, "I am not aware of the development regarding the announcement of Dr Kurien's resignation." When asked about who would be the next possible chairman of IRMA, if at all Kurien stepped down, he said, "It is a hypothetical question at present."

He added that if the news was true then it would be up to the board of directors to decide on the next chairman.

Kurien made his discontent clear saying his detractors were getting impatient for his ouster. He had continued as chairman of IRMA as a large number of people had wanted him to serve the nation.

"But now, there are some people who are restless to occupy the positions I have held and are waiting for my exit," he said.