BJP close to ADC Bank’s control, Congress fumes

Even as the BJP panel led by home minister Amit Shah is all set to retain power in the largest district cooperative bank, Ahmedabad District Cooperative Bank (ADC Bank), the Congress has alleged that the BJP had introduced, in last extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM), certain amendments that aimed at favouring the saffron party. The bank's last EGM had been convened on March 14.

On Monday, of 22 directors of the bank, 11 BJP-backed directors were declared winners uncontested. It is now advantage BJP as 11 of 22 directors were declared winners on the last day of filing nomination for the election of the bank's board of directors, which is going to be held on October 14.

ADC Bank chairman Ajay Patel, who is also chairman of Gujarat State Cooperative Bank, is confident that the BJP will return to power once again. "Though the opposition tried their level best, they could not find a contestant to file nomination on these 11 seats," he said.

But former leader of opposition in the state assembly and Congress leader, Arjun Modhvadia, alleged that Amit Shah and Ajay Patel had no nothing to do either with farmers or with cooperative movement and "they are representative of the builders' lobby". "The BJP led group had feared defeat and introduced the amendments that were not on the agenda," he said.

The Amit Shah group introduced a new category called 'Self Help Groups' in 'other voters' and the amendment was passed by the district registrar within 11 days under political pressure, alleged Modhvadia.

"The Amit Shah fraction has introduced around 743 SHGs only to save Ajay Patel from defeat," he said. Modhvadia said that they would give a tough fight on the political and legal front by taking cooperative leaders in confidence.

However, Ajay Patel said that he had secured 85% and 92% votes in the elections of 1996 and 2000 respectively, while in 2003 and 2006 the whole panel was declared winner uncontested. "I need not worry about my victory," he claimed.