Cong factionalism hits Bathinda cooperative bank president polls

BATHINDA: Factionalism in Bathinda Congress reared its head on Friday as elections for the Bathinda Cooperative Bank chairman and vice-chairman were postponed. Officially, the polls could not take place as the state government nominee who is to conduct the polls did not attend the meeting. Factionalism in the party, however, is not a new thing. In December 2019, intense factionalism was witnessed in the Congress for election to Bathinda zila parishad chairperson and vice-chairperson.

In the district cooperative bank, nine directors, who were elected unopposed in December, have to elect a chairman, vicechairman and one director to serve with the Punjab State Cooperative Bank (PSCB); some others can also vote.

Bank managing director Jaspal Singh said nine directors, a representative of the PSCB and one nominee of the state government, who is deputy registrar (DR) cooperative societies, Bathinda, will vote in the polls. “The presence of government nominee is needed to conduct these polls. The newly-appointed DR is yet to take charge, so polls could not take place,” Jaspal added.

Harmanbir Singh, son of revenue minister and Rampura Phul MLA Gurpreet Singh Kangar, who is one of the newly elected directors, is in the race for the chairman’s post.

On the other hand, Punjab Congress secretary Tehal Singh Sandhu, who is close to finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, and has been elected as director is also in the race for the top post. Sandhu claimed that polls had been postponed to avoid a situation akin to the zila parishad.

“Other directors are being pressured to elect Kangar’s son as chairman. I have even spoken to CM Captain Amarinder Singh on the issue,” Sandhu claimed.

The newly-appointed deputy registrar of cooperative societies, Bathinda, is yet to take charge, so polls could not take place.

JASPAL SINGH, managing director, Bathinda Cooperative Bank