Anand: In a move that reaffirms the tradition of consensus leadership in Gujarat’s thriving dairy cooperative sector, Ashok Chaudhary, Chairman of Dudhsagar Dairy, Mehsana, has been unanimously elected Chairman of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the apex body that markets the world-renowned Amul brand. Alongside him, Gordhan Dhamelia, Chairman of Rajkot District Cooperative Milk Producer Union Ltd., has been appointed Vice Chairman.
About The Leadership Change
This leadership change comes after the completion of the two-and-a-half-year tenure of outgoing Chairman Shamal Patel and Vice Chairman Valamji Humbal.
“We are committed to carrying forward the vision laid down by our founding fathers. Our mission is to strengthen the cooperative structure, empower farmers, and take Amul to new global heights,” said Ashok Chaudhary shortly after his selection.
In keeping with GCMMF’s unique tradition of selection over election, no voting was required—only a single nomination form was filed for each post. This peaceful and united transition is a hallmark of the federation’s legacy.
GCMMF’s turnover has crossed ₹90,000 crore, making it India’s largest food product organization. Despite its massive scale, the federation has never needed a contested election in its leadership history.
The appointment of Chaudhary and Dhamelia was confirmed after a meeting attended by chairpersons of all 18 member dairy unions, the Managing Director of GCMMF, and the District Registrar. Voting power is weighted based on each union’s annual milk turnover, but once again, unanimity prevailed.
About GCMMF
Founded in 1973 by Dr. Verghese Kurien, the architect of India’s White Revolution, GCMMF was established to market the milk produced by farmer-run cooperative societies. The foundation for this model was laid even earlier, in the late 1940s, under the guidance of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and farmer leader Tribhuvandas Patel.
“GCMMF is more than just a dairy federation; it is the backbone of rural Gujarat. The unopposed appointment of Chaudhary reflects the faith and unity among member unions,” said a senior official of Amul Dairy.
Prominent past chairpersons of GCMMF include Dr. Kurien, Parthi Bhatol (Banas Dairy), Vipul Chaudhary (Mehsana), Jetha Patel (Sabar Dairy), Ramsinh Parmar (Anand), and most recently, Shamal Patel of Sabar Dairy.
The new leadership is expected to focus on expanding Amul’s international footprint, boosting milk procurement prices for farmers, and leveraging technology for supply chain efficiency.
