Jolle-Jarkiholi group claims victory in BDCC bank polls

The Jolle-Jarkiholi group claimed victory in Bengaluru District Central Co-operative Bank Ltd. (BDCC) bank polls after winning nine out of the 16 posts of directors unopposed. Polling for the remaining seven posts will be held on October 19.

Elections will now be held in seats with multiple candidates like Athani, Nippani, Bailhongal, Ramdurg, Kittur, Hukkeri and Raibag. Congress MLA Laxman Savadi is facing Mahesh Kumthalli in Athani, Ramesh Katti faces a challenge from Rajendra Patil in Hukkeri, former MP Anna Saheb Jolle is facing Uttam Patil in Nippani, V.I. Patil and Mahantesh Dodagoudar are fighting in Bailhongal, Mallanna Yadvad and Srikant Dhavan in Ramdurg, Babasaheb Patil and Vikram Inamdar in Kittur, Appasaheb Kulgode and Basagouda Asangi in Raibag.

Balachandra Jarkiholi, MLA, and BJP leader said on Wednesday they had fielded candidates in 13 out of the 16 seats, of which they won nine. Victorious candidates include Rahul Jarkiholi, son of Minister Satish Jarkiholi, Amarnath Jarkiholi, son of MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, Channaraj Hattiholi, MLC and brother of Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar.

Contest in this election has breached political lines. Leaders from different parties have aligned and leaders from the same parties are fighting against each other. Congress leaders Laxman Savadi, Mahendra Tammannanavar and A.B. Patil aligned with BJP leader Ramesh Katti, to oppose the Jolle-Jarkiholi panel. Congress leaders and relatives Babasaheb Patil and Vikram Inamdar are pitted against each other in Kittur. BJP leaders V.I. Patil and Mahantesh Dodagoudar are fighting it out in Bailhongal.

In a meeting of primary agriculture cooperative society members in Haroorgeri in Raibag taluk on

Wednesday, leaders like Mr. Savadi, Ramesh Katti, A.B. Patil, Mr. Tammannanavar, and Amarsinh Patil, former zilla panchayat president, jointly campaigned for Basavaraj Asangi. Mr. Asangi is pitted against Appasaheb Kulgode, the bank chairman. Mr. Kulagode was sworn in after Ramesh Katti stepped down last year.

Most of the leaders criticised the leaders of the Jolle-Jarkiholi faction, but did not name them.

Mr. Katti alleged that the bank would be destroyed if the management changed hands. He said that some leaders from Gokak were insecure and jealous of the rise of other leaders and were out to destroy the political careers of leaders from different communities including Lingayats, Kurubas, and Jains. “They are only interested in promoting their family,” he said.

He claimed that he had never discriminated against any farmer on the basis of caste or political affiliation. He alleged that his opponents had kidnapped some members and were forcing those people to vote for them. “I have heard that they are threatening farmers that they will not get crop loans if they did not vote for them. But we will fight your rights,” Mr. Katti said.

“These leaders are now contesting and winning from unreserved seats. If Raibag Assembly constituency opens up for general candidates in the next delimitation, they want to field a family member from Raibag,’‘ he said. Mr. Patil alleged that some leaders in Gokak and Yamakanamaradi had forcefully taken over over 1,000 acres of land from farmers after paying them negligible amounts.

Mr. Savadi said he was not in favour of playing politics in cooperation, but was interested in the welfare of farmers. He said he was smart enough to understand the political moves of his opponents and would give a fitting reply to them when the time came.