The TRS government is likely to defer elections to cooperative societies in the state. The tenure of all cooperative bodies including cooperative banks will end in February 2018, reports Times of India.
The existing executive bodies for these cooperative banks were elected in 2013 before the formation of Telangana and also reorganization of districts. The elections were held on the basis of 10 districts and are functioning in the same geographical limits even today.
The TRS seems averse to holding the elections before the general polls as it would impact the fortunes of the political parties in 2019. It fears that the local polls will ignite group politics and factions within the party as large number of party workers are interested in these lucrative posts.
The state cooperative bank chairman post is most sought after by some ministers in the state cabinet. With thousands of crores worth deposits and power to disperse funds as loans, the cooperative banks in Telangana command huge political weight.