Karnataka: The Congress is undecided concerning the candidate for the chairman’s submit.
| Photograph Credit score: SUDHAKARA JAIN
After the logjam in Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), Apex Financial institution appears to have change into the most recent casualty within the management tussle between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.Ok. Shivakumar.
The election to the submit of chairman of Apex Financial institution, scheduled for Thursday, has been indefinitely postponed after former chairman Belli Prakash, a former BJP legislator from Kadur, withdrew his nomination on the behest of the Chief Minister. The five-year tenure of Mr. Prakash resulted in December 2025. Sharanagouda Bayyapur had filed nominations for the submit of vice-chairman.
IAS officer S. Ziaullah has been posted because the financial institution’s administrator now.
‘At all times unanimous’
Confirming to The Hindu that he had withdrawn his nomination forcing the postponement of elections, Mr. Prakash mentioned that he had carried out so “within the curiosity of the monetary establishment”. “I didn’t wish to politicise the difficulty and therefore withdrew my nomination. Additionally, election to chairman’s submit has all the time been unanimous,” he mentioned.
Inside the Congress, the leaders are undecided concerning the candidate for the chairman’s submit as the opposite two contenders are former Minister Ok.N. Rajanna, backed by the Chief Minister, and MLC S. Ravi, a relative of the Deputy Chief Minister. Congress sources mentioned that although conferences have been held a number of occasions to handle the difficulty, the candidate couldn’t be finalised. By the way, the Co-operation portfolio is held by the Chief Minister after Mr. Rajanna stepped down from the submit.
“The matter has even reached the Congress central leaders, and AICC basic secretary in command of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala has spoken to the Chief Minister,” sources added.
Apex Financial institution sources mentioned that Mr. Prakash withdrew after chatting with the Chief Minister since remaining within the fray would have made him elected unopposed. “The Congress is but to make up its thoughts on the candidate, and for the reason that legislature session is below approach, the choice has been delayed,” mentioned the supply.
Of the 21 district cooperative banks that ship director-representatives to the Apex Financial institution, 18 had been eligible to vote on Thursday. Whereas election has not been held in Bagalkot DCC financial institution attributable to courtroom circumstances, the Kolar DCC financial institution election has been held however has reached the courtroom. The Mysuru DCC financial institution representatives had been nominated after the electoral roll was drawn and therefore grew to become ineligible, sources mentioned.
Earlier tussle
The political tug of conflict between the 2 leaders had earlier performed out in election to the submit of Chairman of KMF. Whereas D.Ok. Suresh, brother of the Deputy Chief Minister and now the Bengaluru Milk Union Ltd. president, was within the race to go the milk cooperative behemoth, the Chief Minister is learnt to have pushed for Congress legislator from Koppal Ok. Raghavendra Hitnal. The KMF Chairman’s submit remains to be mendacity vacant.
Revealed – January 29, 2026 09:25 pm IST
