Following the directive from the Madhya Pradesh High Court, cooperative institution elections will be held in the state after an 11-year hiatus. The State Cooperative Election Authority has announced a four-phase voting program, running from June 26 to September 9. Voting dates are set for August 8, 11, 28, and September 4, with vote counting immediately following each phase.
Key Facts:
- Election under direction of MP High Court
- Last election held in 2014.
- Administrators currently managing most of the Cooperative institutions.
- Program to conduct voting in 4 phases, upto 04th Sept, 2024
- Membership list may be released soon
Initial Focus on PACS:
First of all, elections will be held to elect the representatives to be sent to the Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Societies and various institutions. These elected representatives will form the basis for electing the board of directors for the District Cooperative Central Bank and the Apex Bank. Currently, administrators are appointed in all institutions, contrary to the five-year election mandate. The state’s 4,534 Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Societies last held elections in 2013, with their board of directors’ terms ending in 2018.
Reasons for Election Delays
Post-2013 elections, the government postponed further elections due to upcoming assembly elections. Subsequently, the Kamal Nath government delayed them further due to the Kisan Karj Mafi Yojana and Lok Sabha elections, appointing administrators in district banks. The matter eventually reached the High Court, which mandated elections. However, the Lok Sabha elections caused further delays, leading to the current new schedule.
The election schedule
The new program includes preparing a membership list. Farmers who failed to repay loans on time and fall under the defaulter category will be excluded from participation. Members will vote for directors, who will then elect the President and Vice President.
Representatives for the District Cooperative Central Bank (DCCB) will also be elected, leading to the election of their board of directors who will then elect their President, and Vice President. Representative to the Apex bank will also be sent from amongst them who will form the board of directors.
Ineligible Societies
Officials state that societies found ineligible due to various reasons, such as non-payment of fertilizer-seed amounts or irregularities in crop procurement, will not participate in the elections.
Non-Party Basis Elections with Political Influence
Although cooperative society elections are held on a non-party basis, political parties like BJP and Congress have significant involvement. Both parties have cooperative cells that organize election arrangements, ensuring that leaders aligned with their ideologies become directors of primary committees and subsequently district and state-level committees, ultimately aiming to secure president and vice president positions based on majority control.
