Co-op Election: Tamil Nadu breaks jinx

The election in the cooperative societies in Tamil Nadu has been a subject of intense debate in all conferences on cooperative and democracy. The state acquired notoriety by not conducting election for past 30 years. At last there is a piece of good news.

Five Phases Of Co-operative Elections were concluded in the state electing more than two lakh Board of Directors from more than 21 thousand Co-operative Societies, said a release from the Co-operative Societies Election Commissioner .

M.R.Mohan who was the Commissioner Tamil Nadu State Co-operative Societies election commission said that the elections were conducted in five phases.

The elections to 22,552 Co-operative Societies under the control of Registrar of Co-operative Societies and other functional Registrars were held in five phases. The election in respect of 22,212 Co-operative Societies coming under the first phase were held in four stages. Accordingly the first phase of election for 22,212 Co-operative Societies commenced on 4.3.2013 and completed on 6.5.2013.

The Second phase of elections for 198 Societies commenced on 9.5.2013 and completed on 10.6.2013. The third phase of election for 83 Co-operative Societies commenced on 13.6.2013 and completed on 15.7.2013.

The fourth phase of election involving 58 Co-operative Societies commenced on 18.7.2013 and completed on 23.8.2013. Finally the fifth phase of election involving a lone Society viz; Tamil Nadu Co-operative Union commenced on 31.8.2013 and completed on 4.10.2013.

Election to Tamil Nadu Co-operative Union was conducted in fifth phase in which 21 Board Of Directors were elected of whom 4 belongs to Schedule Caste/Schedule Tribes category, 6 belong to Women category and 11 were elected under General category. Amutha Arunchalam has been elected as the President and Thiru. Ganesa Raja as the Vice President. They have assumed office on 7.10.2013.

In the elections held to the Co-operative Societies in five phases, totally 2,04,902 Board Of Directors have been elected from 21,028 Co-operative Societies of whom 29,237 elected from Schedule Caste/Schedule Tribes communities, 57,250 under Women category and 1,18,415 elected under General category.

There were no nominations from 1462 Co-operative Societies which are mostly dormant and action has been initiated to liquidate them. Further in respect of 62 societies conducting of election is pending due to court cases and law and order problem and action has been initiated to conduct election to these societies separately.

In the election held to the Co-operative Societies in five phases; 20,994 person were elected as President, of whom 1,223 belongs to Schedule Caste/Schedule Tribes Communities, 2,578 belongs to Women and Remaning 17,195 represents the General Category.

In the election held to the Co-operative Societies in five phases; 20,997 persons were elected as Vice-President of whom 1,639 belongs to Schedule Caste/Schedule Tribes Communities, 3,357 belongs to Women and the Remaning 16,001 belongs to General Category.

Of the total number of Board Of Directors in a Society, 18% of Seats were allotted for Schedule Caste/Schedule Tribes categories, 30% Seats are allotted for Women and the remaining 52% represent the General Category.

The Tamil Nadu State Co-operative Societies election commission had announced election Programme to fill up Casual Vacancies of Board Of Directors that arisen due to death or resignation or disqualification of the elected Board Of Directors in Co-operative Societies. Accordingly in the Elections held in Sept 2013 to fill up Casual Vacancies, 7,449 Board Of Directors post have been filled up in 3,782 Co-operative Societies.