Cooperative Election Commissioner Krushna Gopal Mohapatra said the polls will be held in two phases – January 18 and 25 next year. “The chief secretary has asked the district collectors to ensure smooth conduct of the polls,” he said.
The village agricultural worker (VAW) and village level workers (VLW) would be the presiding and elections officers respectively, he added.
Official sources said over 51 lakh members would exercise their franchise in the elections. At least 15 members would be elected to each cooperative body. The president and the vice president would be elected from among the 15 members.
On October 17, The state government gave its go-ahead to cooperative elections after deferring it repeatedly. Elections were last held in 2007 after which political appointees have been heading the cooperative bodies.
In conformity with the 97th Constitution Amendment Act, 2011, the government amended the Orissa Cooperative Societies Act, 1962, in December 2012, which came into effect from January 30, 2013.
-TOI