A seasoned cooperator, senior BJP leader, and former MP Anna Saheb Jolle has been elected unopposed as the President of the Belagavi District Central Cooperative Bank (DCCB).
The election was held on Monday in Belagavi, marking a significant development in the cooperative sector of North Karnataka. This victory is being seen as a major milestone for the Belagavi DCCB, which comprises directors from across political affiliations.
Alongside Jolle, Congress MLA Bharamgouda Alagouda (Raju) Kage was also elected unopposed as Vice-President, showcasing a rare moment of consensus in the region’s politically vibrant cooperative landscape.
Though not fought on party lines, the elections witnessed a three-month-long, high-stakes contest between the Jolle–Jarkiholi panel and the Katti–Savadi panel. The Jolle–Jarkiholi group eventually secured a decisive mandate, winning 13 out of 16 director posts, underscoring its broad support base.
A veteran of the cooperative movement, Jolle has been actively associated with cooperative sector since the 1990s.
He is known for his leadership in the Chikodi Sugar Factory and his role in strengthening several cooperative institutions across the region. His guidance and vision have also contributed to the rise of Shri Beereshwar Credit Cooperative, now recognized as one of the largest multi-state credit cooperatives in southern India.
Jolle’s unopposed election is being hailed as a timely and unifying step for Belagavi’s cooperative sector, which has long witnessed competition among powerful local leaders.