Belagavi: Out of the 16 director posts in the Belagavi District Central Cooperative (BDCC) Bank, nine candidates have been elected unopposed, significantly shaping the contest ahead of the much-awaited cooperative polls.On Oct 11, the final day for filing nominations, six candidates were declared elected unopposed after no other contenders filed papers in their constituencies. Later, on Monday — the last day for withdrawal of nominations — three more candidates secured unopposed victories, taking the total to nine.Among the nine unopposed winners, seven belong to the panel led by MLA Balachandra Jarkiholi and former MP Annasaheb Jolle, signalling their strong influence in the district’s cooperative politics.In total, 72 nomination papers were filed by 43 candidates. With nine positions now filled, elections will be held only for the remaining seven seats on Oct 19, and the results are scheduled to be announced the same evening.The nine candidates elected unopposed are: MLA Vishwas Vaidya (Yaragatti taluk), MLA Bharamagouda Kage (Kagawad), MLA Ganesh Hukkeri (Chikkodi), former MLA Aravind Patil (Khanapur), Rahul Jarkiholi, son of district minister Satish Jarkiholi (Belagavi), Amarnath Patil, son of MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi (Gokak), Virupakshi Mamani (Savadatti), Neelakanth Kappalguddi (Mudalagi), and MLC Channaraj Hattiholi (Other Cooperative Societies sector).Elections for the remaining seven constituencies will see 14 candidates in the fray. They are: MLA Laxman Savadi vs former MLA Mahesh Kumathalli from Athani, former MLA Mahantesh Doddagoudar vs Dr Vishwanath Patil from Bailhongal, Shrikant Dhavan vs Mallappa Yadawad from Ramdurg, Vikram Inamdar vs Nanasahab Patil from Kittur, former MP Ramesh Katti vs Rajendra Patil in Hukkeri, former MP Annasaheb Jolle vs Uttam Patil in Nippani, and Appasaheb Kulagude vs Basagouda Asangi at Raibag.The BDCC Bank election has drawn significant political attention as it involves leaders and family members from major political camps across Belagavi district.
