BAGALKOT; 27 Nov: The results that threw surprise for many, Former Minister and Congress Leader Ajaykumar Sarnaik emerged as president of Bagalkot District Central Co-operative (DCC) Bank even after not having the enough numbers.
In the results announced on Friday, Sarnaik succeeded in grossing eight votes where BJP representative Kumargouda Janali managed to get only six votes. With the margin of two votes Sarnaik registered victory for the second consecutive term in chairman elections of DCC Bank. He will be taking charge of the office for the third term in the last four periods.
In a similar fashion Congress supported nominee Murgesh Kadlimatti, who is independent, won the vice-chairman election by a margin of two votes against BJP’s candidate Prakash Tapshetti.
In the elections held for the post of 13 board of directors of DCC bank on November 5, BJP supported six directors and registered victory, while Congress backed five directors emerged victorious and two were independent directors. Among the two independent directors – one of them was a BJP rebel candidate from Badami, who supported BJP and another was from weavers’ co-operative society, who supported Congress.
The elections for the post of chairman and vice-chairman were held on November 17. Even though Congress supported directors had won six seats but the strength was reduced to five as former MLA Vijayananda Kashappanavar expressing unhappiness on the party high command for not opting him as candidature for the chairman post boycotted the elections. Congress gained the support of one of the independent directors, Murgesh Kadlimatti, who was fielded as party representative for the vice-chairman.
Though BJP supported directors won in five seats it also got the support of its rebel candidate Kumargouda Janali and increased its strength to six. According to the norms of co-operative bank, the representative of Apex Bank and the District Co-operative Sub-registrar will also have the right to exercise their franchise in the chairman and vice-chairman elections of DCC Bank.” Later, the state government had appointed its representative for the DCC bank. After this appointment everyone in the political arena considered it as an easy victory for BJP.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders objecting the appointment had knocked the high court. Initially the high court had allowed the government’s nominee to vote but later it disqualified the vote in its judgement given on November 25.
Holding district leaders responsible for the loss, Prakash Tapashetti, said that, “It is because of adjustment politics we lost the polls even after we had a majority. I will bring this to the notice of party high command,” enraged Tapshetti, who lost the vice-chairman elections by two votes.
