Ashok Chaudhary new chairman of Amul brand operator GCMMF
Ashok Chaudhary has been elected unopposed as the chairman of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), known for its Amul brand. Gordhan Dhameliya was also elected unopposed as the vice chairman. The election was held as the previous office-bearers' tenure concluded, with Chaudhary aiming to foster growth for the federation's 36 lakh associated dairy farmers.
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India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
Amul parent GCMMF gets new leadership: The dairy behemoth's tasks ahead
The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the powerhouse behind the globally renowned Amul brand, held its highly anticipated elections in Anand on July 22. The event marked a significant transition in the leadership of one of India's most influential cooperative institutions, with Ashok Chaudhary elected unopposed as chairman and Gordhan Dhameliya as vice-chairman, succeeding Shamal Patel and Valamji Humbal, 55, hails from Chitrodipura village in Mehsana district's Visnagar taluka and is a prominent figure in the state's cooperative sector. He took over as chairman of Mehsana's Dudhsagar Dairy in 2021, after defeating a panel backed by former GCMMF chairman and a man of standing in the community Vipul Chaudhary's political roots go deep within the BJP, having served as general secretary of its Mehsana unit and president of the Mehsana municipality from 2005 to 2007. His ascent to GCMMF chairmanship reflects how political and cooperative clouts typically ally in Dhameliya, the new vice-chairman, leads the Rajkot District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union (Gopal Dairy). The unanimous election underscores his standing among the 18 member unions, with his nomination proposed by outgoing vice-chairman Valamji Humbal and supported by Ahmedabad Milk Union chairman Mohan Bharwad. Outgoing GCMMF chairman Shamal Patel and vice-chairman Valamji Humbal served two terms of two-and-a-half years each, starting in July 2020 and re-elected in January 2023. Patel, chairman of Sabarkantha's Sabar Dairy, led GCMMF during a period of robust growth, with the federation achieving a turnover of Rs 65,911 crore in FY 2024–25, up 11.2 per cent, and a brand turnover of Rs 90,000 Patel, Ramsinh Parmar, a former Congress MLA who joined the BJP, served as chairman from 2018 to 2020. GCMMF elections occur every two-and-a-half years, as mandated by the Gujarat State Cooperative Act, ensuring regular leadership transitions. The process involves the chairpersons of the 18 member dairy unions, each with one vote, supplemented by additional votes based on their unions' annual turnover with the federation. Notably, GCMMF has maintained a tradition of unanimous elections since its inception in 1973, reflecting a consensus-driven approach, though of late, seen as wholly guided by political directive from the GCMMF chairmanship is a position of immense influence, overseeing a cooperative representing 3.6 million dairy farmers across 18,154 villages, processing around 31 million litres of milk daily—often peaking at 50 million litres. The chairman shapes policies that impact milk pricing, farmer welfare, and Amul's global expansion, making it a role with both economic and socio-political in the cooperative sector is deeply steeped in politics of the day. Earlier, the Congress tried to woo and field cooperative sector leaders in polls as they would have established their influence in their region. The cooperative leaders did not always agree to enter mainstream the last two decades, however, since the late Dr Verghese Kurien stepped down in 2006 as the last non-political chairman, the BJP's complete takeover of the cooperative bodies means every leader is not just aligned with the party but holds a position only on receiving a mandate from 2025 elections saw no contest, with nominations for Chaudhary and Dhameliya proposed and seconded by BJP-affiliated dairy union leaders, reflecting the party's grip. Bipin Patel, the BJP's cooperative cell convenor, reportedly played a key role in ensuring a smooth transition, underscoring the party's strategic cooperative sector in Gujarat, with GCMMF as its flagship, is a microcosm of political influence. This political alignment has often led to concerns from within the community itself about the autonomy of the cooperative model envisioned by founders like Tribhuvandas Patel and BJP's dominance ensures that dairy union leaders, often party affiliates, align with state and national agendas. Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah, a key architect of India's cooperative policy who himself rose the ranks of the BJP alongside a prominent role as chairman of Ahmedabad district cooperative bank, continues to wield significant Chaudhary and Dhameliya inherit a robust ecosystem, with GCMMF being India's largest food products organisation. The Amul model's success, rooted in farmer empowerment and professional management, has made India the world's top milk producer. Favourable factors include strong brand equity, a vast farmer network, and government support via the ministry of cooperation, established to bolster cooperatives challenges loom. Global market competition, climate change impacting milk production, and the need to balance farmer payouts with consumer affordability pose cooperative sector is central to its rural economy, with the ministry of cooperation aiming to replicate the Amul model nationwide. GCMMF is aggressively expanding across India—planning to invest Rs 11,500?crore over the next few years in greenfield and brownfield plants across six states—Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Haryana and Goa—with a focus on modern dairies, bulk milk coolers and product diversification. GCMMF currently exports to about 50 countries and has recently entered the US and European to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
Indian Express
4 days ago
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New leadership at GCMMF: Ashok Chaudhary takes charge as chairman, Gordhan Dhameliya as vice chairman
Dudhsagar Dairy Chairman in Mehsana, Ashok Chaudhary, and Rajkot District Cooperative Milk Producer Union Chairman Gordhan Dhameliya were unanimously elected as Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively on Tuesday, as incumbent Chairman Shamal Patel and Vice Chairman Valamji Humbal completed their two-and-half-year tenure. Chaudhary (55), a leading name in the cooperative sector of north Gujarat, is a native of Chitrodipura village in Mehsana district's Visnagar taluka and tall leader of the BJP's Mehsana unit. He has also served as general secretary of Mehsana BJP in the past. Chaudhary has also held the post of Mehsana Municipality president between 2005 and 2007. He became a director of Dudhsagar Dairy in 2015. In 2021, he became Dudhsagar Dairy chairman defeating a panel backed by former Gujarat Home Minister and former chairman of GCMMF and Dudhsagar Dairy Vipul Chaudhary. Since 2021, Ashok Chaudhary holds the post of Chairman of Dudhsagar Dairy. A mechanical engineer by education, Ashok Chaudhary is considered close to Union Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat minister Rushikesh Patel, who is also from Visnagar of Mehsana. Dhameliya (67), hails from Saurashtra and is the chairman of Rajkot District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union Limited since 2020. An Arts graduate, Dhameliya is a Patidar from Rajkot district's Virpur. He started his political career in the 1980s. He was elected to Virpur Gram Panchayat in 1985. He was also elected as member of Rajkot taluka and district panchayats. He also unsuccessfully contested the assembly elections from Jetpur constituency in 2002 and 2007. Chaudhary and Dhameliya were elected unanimously, in line with the tradition of GCMMF to elect its leadership by consensus. A release from GCMMF said, 'The election meeting, held on July 22, 2025, witnessed full participation from all 18 member unions of GCMMF. Ashokbhai Chaudhary's name was proposed by Shamalbhai B Patel (Chairman, Sabarkantha Milk Union) and seconded by Shri Ashwinbhai Salawiya (Chairman, Amreli Milk Union). For the post of Vice Chairman, Gordhan Dhameliya was proposed by Valamji Humbal (Chairman, Kutch Milk Union) and supported by Mohan Bharwad (Chairman, Ahmedabad Milk Union).' 'The election process was conducted in the presence of the District Collector of Anand and the Registrar of Cooperatives, Government of Gujarat reflecting the Federation's unwavering commitment to democratic values. Since its inception in 1973, GCMMF has proudly maintained the tradition of unanimous elections for its leadership,' the release said. After their election, Chaudhary and Dhameliya expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his 'visionary leadership in positioning Amul as a global dairy brand' and to Union Minister Amit Shah. Chaudhary said, 'I would like to extend my gratitude PM Modi, Amit Shah ji to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat State BJP President CR Paatil, Jagdish Vishwakarma (Minister of Cooperation, Government of Gujarat), and the entire Board of GCMMF for electing me unopposed. This is a federation for 36 lakh dairy farmers of Gujarat, whose dedication and trust continue to form the foundation of GCMMF's success. I am glad to say that after seven decades of Independence, the Ministry of Cooperation has been set up and Amul is a model for cooperatives for the entire country from Gujarat… I pay my tribute to Tribhuvandas Patel, who founded Amul and I will work tirelessly to take this journey forward. It is a very organised federation and so it is our responsibility to ensure that the milk producers and consumers get the best benefit from this model.' As per GCMMF, in the financial year 2024–25, the federation recorded a turnover of ₹65,911 crore (USD 7.7 billion), reflecting a robust year-on-year growth of 11.2%. 'During the same period, the Federation procured over 12 billion liters of milk and achieved a brand turnover of ₹90,000 crore (USD 11 billion) through its member unions. With more than 24 billion product packs distributed across India and over 50 countries, Amul has been recognised as the world's strongest food and dairy brand by Brand Finance UK,' the release said.
