Bhubaneswar, Nov. 3: The BJD is trying its best to capture nearly 10,000 co-operative societies across the state.
The elections to these bodies will be held on January 18 and 25 next year.
Through the 9,733 co-operative bodies with a membership of nearly 50 lakh, the government extends nearly Rs 8,000 crore worth of loans to various sectors, mainly agriculture. Though the polls are not held on party lines like the panchayat-level ones, it is well known that major political parties try their best to capture the organisations.
“It’s better to head a district-level co-operative bank than become an MLA,” said a former minister to emphasise the clout that the 17 central co-operative banks have in the state’s economy.
The elections to co-operative bodies, including banks, are being held for the first time under the State Co-operative Election Commission, a statutory body. Earlier, the government used to monitor the polls. After the state government superseded the organisation, it had brought in a new law, making it mandatory for all these societies to hold elections every five years and appointed a commission for the purpose. The last elections to these bodies were held in 2007.
The BJD even organised a daylong workshop for its leaders. Inaugurating the meet, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said: “Each member of the party must work to ensure a vibrant and efficient co-operative network in the state.”
The BJD has constituted a 12-member state level co-ordination committee, under the leadership of senior leader Ranendra Pratap Swain, to oversee the polls. The Congress, too, has begun preparations. “A 16-member committee, headed by the former State Co-operative Union president Gurupada Nanda, will select candidates and supervise preparations,” said state Congress chief Jaydev Jena.
BJP spokesperson Suresh Pujari said: “We have started preparations at the grassroots level. A meeting of our leaders to chalk out the strategy will be held on November 5.”