UP: Amidst allegations from SP, BJP co-operators sweep PACS elections

The elections of chairman and vice-chairman of more than 7000 Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Societies (PACS) in Uttar Pradesh were concluded on Sunday amidst allegations and counter allegations between the leaders of BJP and the Samajwadi Party.

The 80 percent seats of the primary level societies were won by the leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party whereas in a few districts the leaders of the Samajwadi Party won the elections.

The news of pelting of stones, waiving of swords and firing came in from different districts of Uttar Pradesh. In one such incident reported from Bhagwantpur Sadhan Sahkari Samiti, several people were injured.

The Indian Cooperative has gathered details of the elections of PACCs in different districts of the state. Lucknow has 81 PACCs; but elections were held in only 76 co-ops. The BJP won as many as 61 seats out of them.

Meerut has 84 PACCs societies out of which five societies’ elections were cancelled due to several reasons. The elections in half the PACCs were held unopposed whereas in the remaining half Bharatiya Janata Party won the majority of seats”, said Maninder Pal, Chairman of Meerut DCCB while talking to the Indian Cooperative correspondent.

In Badaun, the elections of Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Directors of a total 132 PACCs were held unopposed. Soon after the elections, the elected representatives of PACCs gathered at a local BJP party office and celebrated their victories.

In Lakhimpur Kheri, there are 132 PACCs out of which the elections of 2 cooperatives were cancelled. In this district the elections in 92 societies were held unopposed and the rest went to the polls. It is reported that from this district, the BJP won the majority of seats.

“In, Barabanki District, there are 123 PACCs, out of which the elections of 90 societies were held unopposed and the remaining PACCS went to the polls. There is news of violence from our district and the majority of seats were won by the BJP”, said Barabanki DCCB Chairman Dhirendra Kumar Verma.

In Banda, most of the PACCS had unanimous elections and only a few went to the polls. The majority of seats were won by the BJP. The elections were conducted peacefully”, informed Prakash Dwivedi, former Chairman of Uttar Pradesh Upbhokta Sahakari Sangh Limited.

In Shahjahanpur district, which is the hometown of State Cooperative Minister JPS Rathore, there are 115 PACCs, out of which in 111 societies BJP leaders won the elections and in three societies, the independent candidates became winners.

In Ambedkar Nagar district there are 90 societies and 57 PACCs elections were won by the BJP. The social media platforms, Facebook and twitter have been filled with thousands of posts on the elections of PACCs by the elected representatives and their followers.

After the elections of primary level co-ops, cooperative unions and block unions’ elections will be held.

There are 1297 co-ops and their elections process will start from 22rd March 2023 and conclude on 31st March 2023. Later, the proceedings for elections in Krya-Vikray co-ops will begin from 3rd April 2023 to 13th April 2023. There are 225 co-ops.

Meanwhile, talking to media persons, NCUI former Chairman Chandra Pal Singh Yadav made allegations of rigging in the cooperative elections in Uttar Pradesh. It is alleged that at some places the nomination papers were not allowed to be brought by other party leaders except the BJP.