Co-operative societies the next battleground for political parties in Maharashtra

Poll to a record 2,27,000 coop societies with annual turn over of Rs 6 lakh cr to be completed by June 30

After successive victories in the Lok Sabha and assembly polls in Maharashtra, the Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to contest the election to a record 2,27,000 registered cooperative societies on a mission mode. The party beleives that getting control of cooperative societies with an annual turnover of Rs 6 lakh crore and deposits of over Rs 4 lakh crore is crucial to further consolidate its position and thereby checkmate Congress and NCP in the state. 

BJP ministers including Eknath Khadse, Chandrakant Patil and new entrants such as Pravin Darekar have been mobilizing the voters in these societies to gain supremacy. On the other hand, Shiv Sena has also decided to increase its presence in the cooperative sector and the minister of state for cooperation Dada Bhuse is coordinating poll related issues.

Undeterred by crushing defeats in the general election and assembly poll, Congress and NCP are contesting election to these societies with a resolve to maintain their dominance. The state government has already given an extension to hold elections in these societies till June 30 as per the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 2013. The Congress-NCP government had amended the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960 making elections compulsory because many societies had become fiefdoms of politicians or influential persons. 

The State Cooperative Election Authority (SCEA) has completed elections to some of the societies till December last year. However, the SCEA official told Business Standard "Election for 52 of the 160 cooperative sugar factories, 20 of the total 31 district central cooperative banks are due in January and February. Besides, SCEA will simultaneously hold elections by June end to 90,000 housing societies and 25,000 primary agricultural cooperative societies (PACS), 21,000 primary credit societies,  536 urban cooperative banks, remaining 11 district cooperative banks, 19,000 primary dairy coop societies, 305 agriculture produce marketing committees, 68 milk federation unions, 64 spinning mills and allied organizations."

The official informed that the election to the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank, which is currently under the administrator's rule since May 2011, will also be held. According to the official, the necessary staff has been pooled from the cooperative and revenue departments.

A state BJP minister who refused to be named said, "The government is resolved to make the functioning of these cooperative bodies more transparent and curb corrupt practices. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has already expressed state government's commitment to bring in professionalism in their functioning and thereby regain lost glory."

On the other hand, former state cooperation minister and senior Congress leader Harshvardhan Patil said cooperative sector has grown during the Congress rule since 1960 and it has helped promote development of the state as a whole. "Congress party is geared up for the election to the cooperative societies. However, the party insists that these polls should take place in a free and fair manner and the SCEA should work independently," he noted.

Similarly, NCP, which controls a large number of sugar factories and other cooperative societies, is paying special attention to retain its hold. Party president Sharad Pawar has recently discussed the issue with senior party leaders and asked them to gear up for the polls. Former water resources minister Ramraje Nimbalkar downplayed attempts by BJP-Shiv Sena to make inroads in the cooperative sector saying that the latter's presence is quite insignificant.