Bengaluru: After the Cong-JD (S) government fell, former minister H.D. Revanna is making all out efforts to capture the post of Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) chairman.
The election to this post is scheduled to be held on July 29. Ahead of the election, Revanna, who is the son of former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda, has been accused of abducting four Congress supported directors who have voting rights and holed them up at a resort in Hyderabad in a bid to return to power in this cooperative body.
This election has gained significance in recent years as KMF emerged as second largest milk producer in the country after Gujarat. KMF also flourished as a “cash cow” with a annual business turnover and property worth Rs 15,500 crore.
The other reason to capture power for political party leaders is KMF has 18 lakh milk producers spread over the regions of Bengaluru, Old Mysuru, Central Karnataka, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Coastal Karnataka.
Though the directors to KMF get elected from all district milk unions without any party symbols, most of them are supporters of key political leaders in respective districts.
Revanna is making a bid to capture power at KMF after a gap of 10 years. Earlier, he had served as its Chairman for 15 years in the past three terms.
Revanna is now facing a tough contest from Ballari district’s Hagari Bommanahalli Congress MLA L Bheemanaik in this election.
Bheemanaik is also Ballari District Milk Union President and one of the elected KMF directors from Ballari Milk Union.
Among the 15 directors who have voting rights to elect their new chairman, Congress has 8 supporters including one nominated director and Gokak Rebel Congress MLA Ramesh L Jharkiholi’s son Amarnath Jharkhiholi, who got elected from Belagavi Milk Union.
JD( S) has three members including H.D. Revanna, Hunsur Kumar from Mysuru Milk Union and Maruti Kashempur, brother of former minister Bandeppa Kashempur of Bidar Milk Union.
Other than KMF directors who got elected from the district milk unions of Shivamogga, Vijayapura, Bengaluru, Kolar, Belagavi, Ballari and Kalaburagi and those who enjoy voting rights, Joint Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Department, Joint Registrar of Cooperatives and one nominated director from KMF also enjoy voting rights.
The voting rights of Directors from Tumakuru Milk Union and Mandya Milk Union are being withheld in this election due to technical reasons. The Congress which has majority of votes is naturally demanding the chairman post.
