Finally after a gap of 11 years, Madhya Pradesh State Cooperative Election Authority has announced the elections of Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS). The elections will be held in four phases between 24th June 2024 to 9th September 2024.
The news about the announcement of elections has sparked joy among the cooperators who had been demanding this for many years.
On various occasions, the Madhya Pradesh Chapter of Sahakar Bharati had protested against the ruling government for the delay in conducting the elections of cooperatives in the state.
Several cooperators had filed petitions in various courts of MP related to delaying the elections. While listening to a petition, Jabalpur High Court ordered an election sooner than later.
Talking to Indian Cooperative, Sahakar Bharati, MP Chapter Chairman Sekhar Kibe said, “As far as the MP cooperative movement is concerned, it’s big news for us. The elections in cooperatives will be held after a long gap and we are hoping that the decision will definitely bring in democracy in co-ops of the state”, he said.
“In its recent conference, Sahakar Bharati passed resolutions related to elections in co-ops. We are happy that the government has listened to our demands. The elected board of co-ops will help in fulfilling the vision of ‘Sahakar Se Samriddhi’, said Kibe on the phone.
A cooperator from Madhya Pradesh and NLCF Director Vivek Chaturvedi said, “Thanks are due to the state government and the cooperative elections authority for conducting elections after a gap of 11 years. We are happy with the news”, he noted.
After the completion of PACS elections, the election of district level and state level cooperatives will take place.
It bears recalling that the last cooperative elections in Madhya Pradesh were held in 2013 for a term of five years but after their completion the state government appointed administrators in cooperative societies.
As per the data of the Union Ministry of Cooperation, there are 4095- Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), 11,725- Women Welfare Cooperative Societies, 10,447- Dairy Cooperatives, 4,954- Consumer Cooperatives and 3,757- Agriculture & Allied Cooperatives.
Kudos for election authority