The nomination process to the post of directors of the Guntur Cooperative Urban Bank Limited was marred by high drama on Wednesday as supporters of the Telugu Desam and the BJP clashed before the bank premises leading to a mild tension.
As rival supporters jostled one another in the presence of senior TDP and BJP leaders, police forces chased away the groups. Supporters of the BJP alleged that Chairman Kothamasu Srinivasa Rao and vice-chairman A. Venkata Ratnam, who came to file the nominations for the posts of directors, were pushed away by the TDP men in the presence of the police forces.
Mr. Rao could not file his nomination and beat a retreat while Mr. Venkata Ratnam alias Babu, filed his papers. BJP urban president Ammisetty Anjaneyulu was also pushed away by TDP supporters.
In the end, only two persons, B. Srinivasa Yadav (TDP) and A. Venkat Ratnam filed nominations and they were elected unanimously. High drama enfolded as Guntur MLA M. Venugopala Reddy, Tenali MLA Alapati Rajendra Prasad and Vemuru MLA Nakka Anand Babu rushed to the bank premises. Supporters of the YSR Congress Party headed by Guntur East MLA Sk. Mustafa and city unit president Lella Appireddy also reached the bank premises demanding that their representatives too should be allowed to file their nominations.
As the existing members owe their allegiance to former Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana, the TDP leaders turned up in full strength. The matter was resolved after the leaders agreed that the TDP would get the Chairman post and the BJP, the post of vice-chairman.
The Guntur Cooperative Urban Bank was established in 1949 and grew up into a major local financial institution with deposits of Rs. 297 crore. The Bank is headed by a Chairman, supported by vice-chairman and 10 directors. While the tenure of the Chairman and vice-chairman lasts for five years, elections are held for the posts of two directors every year on a rotation basis.
The tenure of Kothamasu Srinivasa Rao and A. Venkata Ratnam would expire in August and elections are scheduled to be held on July 30 with July 20 being the last date for filing of nominations.
