A notification in this regard has been issued today by the Election Officer and Deputy Collector of Anand district, N D Mistry.
"We have issued the notification for the election for the post of Chairman, GCMMF today and whole process will be completed on August 18 only," said Mistry.
"Following the High Court order dated July 20, which directed us to complete the process of election within a month, we have finalised the schedule. Nomination papers will have to be filed on the same day, when the process of election will begin at 11 AM," he added.
The term of present chairman Parthi Bhatol ended on June 26, but as the election programme was not announced by the Collector's office, he is still the in-charge of the politically significant GCMMF with an annual turnover of Rs 11,660 crore.
Taking objection over the delay in holding the election, chairmen of the Baroda Dairy and Anand Dairy, which is one among 16 milk producer unions that vote in selection of of GCMMf chairman, had moved the high court in this regard.
Chairman of Vadodara District Milk Producers Cooperative Union (Baroda Dairy) Narendra Patel had alleged that BJP government was "delaying" the election to take advantage of the upcoming Assembly elections.
The GCMMF election has always been marked by fierce politicking since the exit of Dr Verghees Kurien.
