Bengaluru: The Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Monday passed the Karnataka Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2025, paving the way for reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in elections to the posts of president and vice-president in cooperative societies. The move has been hailed by the ruling Congress government as a step towards ensuring social justice, but it also triggered sharp criticism and objections from sections of the Opposition.
The amendment also mandates the nomination of one representative each from the SC, ST, and women categories to the board of directors of cooperative societies. However, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil clarified that these nominated members would not have voting rights in the election process.
BJP MLA Araga Jnanendra questioned the provision of nominations, arguing that since reservations already exist for SC, ST, BCM(A), and BCM(B) candidates in elections, the representation should come through electoral means rather than appointment. He urged that the bill be reconsidered, noting that it had been conceptualised earlier during the tenure of then Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna.
Adding to the criticism, JD(S) legislator G.T. Devegowda expressed disappointment that the bill did not include a nomination for OBCs, despite Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself belonging to the backward classes. He also opposed the requirement for cooperative society CEOs, directors, and chairpersons to declare their assets and liabilities, calling it impractical and an unnecessary extension of government interference in the cooperative sector.
Meanwhile, Backward Classes Welfare Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi and Kaduru Congress MLA K.S. Anand accused BJP and JD(S) legislators of opposing reservations, framing the debate as one over social justice versus political obstruction. Patil defended the bill, recalling that it had earlier been rejected by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot but was later revised after consultations with him.
