Interest in Belagavi District Central Co-operative Bank polls rivals that of general elections

Elections to the Belagavi District Central Cooperative (BDCC) Bank are raising eyebrows as the interest shown by potential candidates seems to rival that of general elections.

Leaders have forgotten their party affiliations to come together and are campaigning in groups led by individuals who are experienced in cooperative politics.

Founded in 1919, BDCC Bank is one of the oldest cooperative institutions in Karnataka. Its annual turnover is estimated to be ₹8,000 crore. The bank has established 100 branches in the district. Over 4.3 lakh farmers have got cumulative loans of over ₹2,151 crore. It has also disbursed loans of ₹1,200 crore to 14 private and nine cooperative sugar factories. The bank has extended loans of about ₹77.97 crore cumulatively to 10,538 Self-Help Groups. During COVID, it set up an oxygen manufacturing plant at a cost of ₹2.5 crore.

The board comprises 18 directors, and is led by a president and a vice-president. The bank has a Chief Executive Officer while a banking expert is appointed as a consultant. A few months ago, a majority of directors rebelled against bank president Ramesh Katti, and replaced him with A. M. Kulgude.

As of now, the main contenders are the candidates backed by the Jarkiholi-Jolle group and the Ramesh Katti group. But the group affiliations of the aspiring director is not clear.

Polls to the cooperative finance agency has led to several surprise relationships. The Jolle family of Nippani and the Jarkiholi brothers of Gokak, perceived as political rivals, are working together. Anna Saheb Jolle, former MP from Chikkodi, had publicly accused the Jarkiholi brothers of plotting his defeat in the parliamentary elections. But now he has allied with Balachandra Jarkiholi to campaign for their favoured candidates.

The Jarkiholi brothers and the Savadi brothers of Athani, perceived as political adversaries, are now seen working together. Chidanand Savadi, son of former Deputy CM Laxman Savadi, has joined campaign meetings with Balachandra Jarkiholi, putting aside political differences.

The Jolle-Jarkiholi group has been campaigning against Ramesh Katti, former president of the bank and former MP. Mr. Katti, Mr. Jolle and Balachandra Jarkiholi are BJP leaders, who are now in rival camps where the elections to the bank are concerned.

Balachandra Jarkihol has said in public meetings that he is not bothered about the political affiliations of his allies or adversaries, as long as they are committed to growing the bank and helping farmers. He has also said that he is working towards minimising voting, and encouraging uncontested elections for the post of directors.

The arena has some heavyweights. They include Mr. Katti and Mr. Jolle, MLAs Laxman Savadi and Vishwas Vaidya, and former MLAs Mahantesh Dodagoudar and Arvind Patil, and Ratna Mamani, widow of former MLA Anand Mamani. All of them have served as directors in the past.

Rahul Jarkiholi, son of PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi is said to be keen to contest. However, the Minister has not confirmed his candidature.

Channaraj Hattiholi, brother of Minister of Women and Child Development, Disabled and Senior-Citizens Empowerment Laxmi Hebbalkar, has been nurturing ambitions to join the board. He won elections to the primary agriculture cooperative society from his native village of Hattiholi recently. It is not yet clear which group he will align with.

The bank elections also seem to have re-affirmed caste affiliations. The bank has been historically dominated by Lingayat leaders, but the power dynamics may change this time.

Some political leaders from Belagavi held two meetings in the Sri Adrushya Kadasiddeshwar Swami Math of Kanheri in Kolhapur district in Maharashtra. There are reports that the seer attended the meetings, and advised the participants to ensure that the next board of directors is largely populated with Lingayat leaders.

Responding to this, Balachandra Jarkiholi said he did not think it was a meeting against any community. He added that the leaders are keen on building a hostel for Lingayat students in Belagavi, and that the seer advised them to help farmers through the bank.

There is speculation that Mr. Hattiholi attended some of the meetings, but he has neither confirmed nor denied them.