The cross-voting was reportedly engineered by the Bharatiya Janata Party. In the 16-member Board of Directors, 10 people owe allegiance to the Congress, five to the BJP, and one is the registrar's vote.

Following a tie between Gohil and Suresh Patel, in whose favour the Congress had issued a whip, chits were thrown and the former was elected. Both had polled 8 votes. K T Amin, who contested for Vice-President on behalf of the group broke the Congress whip, polled 7 votes. He lost to Parmar, who got 9 votes.

Outgoing president Kiritsinh Maharaul and former president Narendra Patel alias Mukhi had also staked a claim for the president's post. The whip in Patel's favour came at the eleventh hour. On Monday evening, District Congress president Mohansinh Rathwa and Savli MLA Khumansinh Chauhan had convened a meeting with the Board of Directors.

One of the Directors, who helped to break the Congress hold, told Express Newsline that the Congress whips were often based on personal considerations. A couple of Directors who were reportedly unhappy with the practice voted against the Congress mandate.

One of the Directors said that foiling the Congress bid was all the more necessary as the result would have more significance considering the forthcoming general elections and the Dairy polls to be held next year.

Talking to reporters after being elected president, Gohil said that he would work for the betterment of the milk co-operative sector keeping everyone's interests in mind.