Whenever, by reason of an equally divided vote of the stockholders, there shall be a failure to elect directors, and such failure for such reason shall exist at two successive annual elections, or if there shall be a failure to elect directors by reason of an equally divided vote at an election held in accordance with section 193 of this chapter, the district court, on petition of any stockholder, may in the absence of an existing agreement for arbitration appoint one or more persons to be receivers of and for such corporation, with all the powers of the corporation and the power to continue the corporate business until otherwise ordered by the court.