CEA Celebrates First Foundation Year, Emphasizing Democratic Governance and Transparency

Chairperson of CEA, Shri Devendra Kumar Singh, reaffirmed the Authority’s dedication to fostering democratic governance, transparency, and accountability within cooperative societies.

The Cooperative Election Authority (CEA) marked its First Foundation Year today with a commemorative event in New Delhi, underscoring its commitment to ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections within cooperative societies. The event was graced by Union Cooperation Secretary Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani as the Chief Guest, along with the presence of CEA Chairman Shri Devendra Kumar Singh, Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies Shri Rabindra Kumar Agrawal, CEA Vice Chairman Shri R K Gupta, senior officials from the Ministry of Cooperation, and representatives from various Multi-State Cooperative Societies.

In his address, Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani emphasized the significant reforms undertaken in the cooperative sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the guidance of Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah. He highlighted that the establishment of the CEA was a pivotal outcome of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023, which underwent a comprehensive review spanning over 12 years.

Dr. Bhutani stated that the formation of CEA aims to uphold the core cooperative principle of democratic control by members while ensuring transparency in the electoral process of cooperative societies. He reiterated that the Authority’s role is instrumental in eliminating vested interests, reducing opacity in elections, and fostering the infusion of new leadership within cooperatives. The introduction of election supervision by District Magistrates and District Collectors has significantly enhanced credibility and fairness in the electoral process.

Encouraging further capacity building, Dr. Bhutani urged the Cooperative Election Authority to focus on training programs for stakeholders and Returning Officers to ensure the effective implementation of cooperative laws. He stressed that with active participation from cooperative society members, democratic principles can be effectively upheld in cooperative elections.

Chairperson of CEA, Shri Devendra Kumar Singh, reaffirmed the Authority’s dedication to fostering democratic governance, transparency, and accountability within cooperative societies. He extended his gratitude to the Ministry of Cooperation for their unwavering support, which has been instrumental in achieving this milestone.

Looking ahead, Shri Singh shared that the Authority is planning to oversee elections for more than 170 societies in the upcoming year, with the cooperation of State Cooperative Election Authorities and Returning Officers across various states. He advocated for the integration of technology in scrutinizing bye-laws to identify inconsistencies and called for strengthened collaboration with state cooperative election authorities.

The celebration also marked the CEA’s significant progress since its establishment on March 11, 2024. The Authority has already issued election programs for over 137 societies and successfully conducted elections for the Board of Directors and Office Bearers in more than 100 cooperative societies under its supervision.

With its ongoing efforts, the Cooperative Election Authority continues to evolve and solidify its role as a pillar of democratic integrity within cooperative governance, ensuring that electoral processes remain impartial, transparent, and inclusive.