Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (SR/CN)

Mangalore Sep 4: Elections for the 12 posts of directors in the Central Areca and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative Limited (Campco), a co-operative of arecanut growers from Karnataka and Kerala, will be held on Sunday September 5.

Speaking to the media at the Congress office on Friday September 3, district congress president Ramanath Rai said that Campco is fully in the hands of the BJP and they are trying to privatize the organization.

He said that 3,000 fake voters had been created in Campco and said that 65,000 voters of Campco are not participating in the voting due to fear.

Rai has requested the police officials to give protection to the voters as Congress supporters are not allowed in the voting booth. He also complained that despite getting a 30 percent dividend only 10 percent dividend has been shared with the members, and the rest of the money will be used by Sahakari Bharathi members for their own expenses.

Rai said that Congress candidate Vishvanath Rai who will be contesting for the Campco elections was not allowed to contest for the elections previously.

He requested that an opportunity be given for Vishvanath Rai to be the voice of the people and urged provision of voter cards for all the members of the association.

C A Bank president Shriram said that Campco Rakshana Vedike shall be formed to protect the voting rights of the farmers and every taluk shall have voting booths.

“The BJP is using Campco as their own BJP office and after the MSCS Act 2002 Section 43 was amended, the rule was changed to include people having shares less than 10,000 and the people who do not attend three ‘Maha Sabhas’ will not be allowed to contest in the elections”, he added.

“We are requesting all the farmers to participate in the voting and support Vishvanath Rai in the election to work to bring value to the areca growth. Come to the Maha Sabha and participate in the discussion. The farmers have to protect the institution”, said Shriram.