BJD co-operators sweep co-op bodies elections in Odisha

The cooperative leaders associated with Biju Janata Dal in Odisha won the majority of elections held at district level which includes district central cooperative banks, Regional Cooperative Marketing Societies, District Cooperative Milk Producers Union, Wholesale Consumer Co-ops stores and others.

It bears recalling that the elections in the said co-ops were held in two phases, of which the first was held on 23rd October 2022 and the second held on 30th October 2022. The elections were held after a gap of more than 1.5 years, because the state government appointed administrators in many cooperative societies where the tenure of the board was completed.

There are 17 central cooperative banks in Odisha and the elections have been held on all the banks. In a few banks the process of electing the President and Vice-President is already completed but, in several banks, it is yet to be done.

Indian Cooperative gathered the details of elections in several central cooperative banks. Out of 15 seats of the board of directors of Angul United Central Cooperative, the elections were held for 10 seats but the BJD candidates won the majority of seats. Five directors were elected unopposed.

In the elections of Koraput Central Cooperative Bank, four seats went unopposed and for the remaining 11 seats around 29 candidates were in the fray. The elections were held on 30th October 2022. Whereas in Keonjhar Central Cooperative Bank all the directors were elected unopposed for the fourth term. Kanan Pahi has been elected as the President of this bank.

Out of 15 seats of the board of directors of Mayurbhanj Central Cooperative Bank, the elections were held for seven seats and the majority of seats were won by the leaders of BJD.

Now, the elections of state level co-ops including State Cooperative Bank, State Cooperative Union, Marketing Federation, State Cooperative Housing Corporation and others will likely be held in the month of January.