The Cooperative Election Authority (CEA) has announced the election programme for the National Federation of State Cooperative Banks Ltd. (NAFSCOB) and appointed the District Magistrate, Thane, as the Returning Officer for conducting the elections.
According to the order issued, polling for the election of the 21-member Board of Directors will be held on November 5, 2026, while the election of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman is scheduled for November 17, 2026.
The order states that the previous Board’s term expired on December 28, 2025. It further notes that NAFSCOB had amended its bye-laws to bring them in conformity with the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002, as amended in 2023, and that the amended bye-laws were approved by the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS) on December 27, 2025.
The CEA has prescribed a detailed election schedule, including submission of fresh delegate resolutions by member State Cooperative Banks. As per the order, the Returning Officer shall accept only fresh Board resolutions dated on or after July 1, 2026, and the last date for receipt of delegate resolutions is September 29, 2026.
In the same order, the Cooperative Election Authority has also directed NAFSCOB to submit a proposal to the CRCS within three months for amendment of certain provisions of its bye-laws.
The Authority has stated that the number of Vice-Chairpersons in the Society shall not exceed one.
It has also stated that District Cooperative Banks should be included as regular/ordinary members, observing that under Section 26 of the MSCS Act, shareholding is a pre-requisite for nominal membership, while Section 23(2) provides that every federal cooperative shall, in the general meeting, be represented by its member cooperative.
The order states that these two inconsistencies in the bye-laws would require amendment and accordingly directs that a proposal be sent to the CRCS within three months.
The CEA has further directed that the election shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the MSCS Act, 2002, as amended in 2023, and the Rules framed thereunder. It has also clarified that where any provision of the registered bye-laws is inconsistent with the Act or Rules, the provisions of the Act and Rules shall prevail.
