Nagaraj elected chairman of KMF

Mangalore Today News Network

Bangalore, Sep 18, 2014, DHNS: P Nagaraj, a close aide of Energy Minister D K Shivakumar, was on Wednesday elected unopposed as the new chairman of Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) for two years.

He has replaced G Somashekara Reddy, brother of jailed former minister G Janardhana Reddy. After holding the post for two years, Nagaraj will make way for M P Ravindra, Congress MLA from Harapanahalli, for the remaining three years, as per an understanding reached among the Congress leaders.

Nagaraj is also the director of Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural and Ramanagar Co-operative Milk Union, while Ravindra is the director of Bellary, Raichur and Koppal Co-operative Milk Union.

The newly elected chairman said his priority would be to supply quality milk to consumers and promote dairy industry in north Karnataka. A group insurance scheme for cattle will be introduced soon from KMF for the benefit of dairy farmers.

He said he had no plans to increase the price of milk in the near future.In the elections held to the post of directors in 13 co-operative milk unions on Monday, the ruling Congress-backed candidates had won 11 of them. It is after several years the Congress has taken control of KMF. Nagaraj and Ravindra were strong contenders for the post of chairman, the election to which was held on Wednesday.

Co-operation Minister H S Mahadev Prasad was backing Ravindra’s candidature, while Shivakumar and Animal Husbandry Minister T B Jayachandra were batting for Nagaraj. Though it was initially decided that the two contenders would share the five-year term equally, the question of who should get the first term became a contentious issue.

Then the leaders are learnt to have discussed the issue with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who was away in Gulbarga. The chief minister is learnt to have directed that the person who becomes the chairman first be given only two years and the rest of the term for the other.

The election of Nagaraj, it is said, is a move by Shivakumar to further consolidate his position in Bangalore Rural and Ramanagar districts.