Apex Bank election slated for September 10

The elections to the Karnataka State Cooperative Apex Bank, which was trapped in a political whirlwind in the power-sharing struggle between former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, have finally been slated for September 10.

The notification for the election of president and vice-president of the Apex Bank was issued here on Thursday.

While Madhugiri Congress legislator and former Minister K.N. Rajanna and MLC S. Ravi were seen as frontrunners for the post, party sources said that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was not in favour of family members being in the race. “Mr. Ravi is related to the Chief Minister, and Mr. Rajanna has greater chances. Unless the Opposition BJP-Janata Dal (Secular) decides to field a candidate, it could be a unanimous election,” they added.

After the end of the tenure of former BJP legislator Belli Prakash, the Congress could not push its common candidate in the election, with multiple leaders vying for the post of president. Mr. Rajanna and Mr. Ravi were backed by Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar, respectively, forcing the intervention of the Congress Central leadership. Eventually, the election was postponed after Mr. Prakash, who was the lone candidate in the fray, withdrew.

KMF elections

Similarly, the election to the post of chairman of the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) was also postponed with Mr. Shivakumar’s brother and president of Bengaluru Milk Union Ltd., D.K. Suresh, making a strong pitch against Mr. Siddaramaiah-backed Koppal legislator K. Raghavendra Hitnal.

Party sources said that the election in KMF would also be held shortly. “With the Chief Minister not in favour of family members, it is likely that a Congress legislator from Malur and Kolar Milk Union Ltd. president K.Y. Nanjegowda could be the party’s choice,” sources said.