Congress moves to bypass cooperative elections, eyes nominated posts in PACS and DCCBs

The Congress government in Telangana plans to replace elected bodies of PACS and DCCBs with nominated committees, drawing criticism from farmer groups and opposition parties, who allege the move is aimed at avoiding electoral backlash and consolidating political control.

Hyderabad: In a move that has triggered sharp criticism, the ruling Congress government in Telangana is making efforts to fill governing bodies of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Credit Societies (PACS) and District Cooperative Central Banks (DCCBs) through nomination, effectively scrapping elections and insulating itself from mounting farmer anger. Orders to this effect are expected to be released in a couple of days.

The term of the existing elected governing bodies of 980 PACS and nine DCCBs across the State, expired in February this year. Though their term was extended till August this year, and again till February next year, the State government issued orders dissolving them with effect from December 19 and appointed special officers to pave the way for nominated committees.

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Now, official sources said the Revanth Reddy government has decided to constitute nominated committees in their place, on the lines of Agricultural Market Committees, with a clear intent to complete the process before Sankranthi.

Each PACS will have a 13-member nominated body comprising a chairman, vice-chairman and 11 directors, with reservations for SC, ST and BC categories. While the government claimed that only cooperative society members would be considered, the shift from elections to nominations has raised serious questions over the democratic functioning of cooperatives.

Political observers and farmer organisations felt that the move was an attempt to avoid farmers’ backlash amid discontent over delays in welfare schemes such as Rythu Bharosa and issues related to the supply of seeds, irrigation water, power and fertilisers. Opposition leaders pointed out that cooperative elections at this stage could have exposed the Congress to farmers’ resistance at the grassroots, particularly after its poor performance in recent panchayat polls.

Sources said the proposal will shortly be placed before the Cabinet for formal approval. The real objective behind the decision is suspected to be political consolidation, enabling the ruling party to handpick office-bearers across PACS, DCCBs, DCMS, TGCOB, MARKFED and allied institutions, with nearly 12,000 posts likely to be filled through nominations. The District Congress Committee presidents are said to be frontrunners for the DCCB chairman posts.