For the first time, elections to co-operative societies and banks in Karnataka will be conducted by the newly-created Co-operative Election Commission (CEC). Elections are due to be held for 5,296 societies in the state.
The CEC has been constituted as per the direction of the Constitution (97th Amendment) Act, 2011. Under this, the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls and conduct of all elections to co-operative societies vest with the CEC.
In Karnataka, the CEC came into existence in March 2013, following amendment to the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 1959 and Karnataka Souharda Co-operative Act, 1997. It is headed by a CEC.
Following the announcement of the election schedule by the CEC, elections to the milk producers' co-operative societies took place on February 2 and primary agriculture credit co-operative societies on February 9.
In the next phase, elections are being held on February 16 for urban co-operative banks, PCARD banks, employee credit co-operatives, souhardha societies and other credit societies. The first three processes of filing nominations, scrutiny and withdrawal have already been completed. In Mysore district, of the total 23 societies and banks, elections of 10 have been unopposed. Members of the remaining 13 credit co-operative societies, 11 societies and four banks in Mysore city and the remaining two societies in the rural district will elect members to the board whose five-term is coming to end on March 31.
Of the credit co-op banks in the city, the Graduates' Co-operative Bank has the highest number of voters, numbering around 13,000 gradu- ates. Returning officers designated by the CEC are making arrangements for the smooth conduct of elections.
Polls to the primary coops will be held on on February 17 in the following phase, says Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies H C Joshi.
In the next phase, other consumers' co-op societies will face elections on February 23 for which filing of nomination papers will be on February 15. The scrutiny and withdrawal will be on the next two days, respectively. Twenty-three house building co-op societies, 13 multipurpose co-op societies, four fishermen's co-op societies, one credit co-op society and five other societies will elect new directors on February 23 in the district.
Election of any other co-operative societies not covered above will take place in the last phase on March 2.
