By The Hindu Bureau

Copyright thehindu

Ramesh Katti, former chairman of Belagavi District Central Cooperative Bank, filed his nomination papers for the post of director of the bank on Tuesday (October 7, 2025).

He arrived at the BDCC bank head office in Belagavi and submitted his nomination from Hukkeri taluk. MLA Nikhil Katti, his family members and a few followers were present.

Ramesh Katti had to resign from the chairmanship of the century-old institution, following a no-confidence motion by a few directors of the bank last year. A.M. Kulgude was then elected chairman. It was widely believed that a panel led by former MP Anna Saheb Jolle and MLA Balachandra Jarkiholi was behind this move.

Differences between Mr. Jolle and Mr. Katti, both BJP leaders, developed after the 2024 Parliament elections. Mr. Jolle believed that Mr. Katti had not supported him in his campaign for the Chikkodi Lok Sabha seat, as a result of which he lost to Priyanka Jarkiholi, Congress nominee and minister Satish Jarkiholi’s daughter. However, Mr. Katti has denied this allegation by saying he had remained aloof only because his claim to the BJP ticket was not respected.

Not a Chairman aspirant

Ramesh Katti told reporters later that he was not an aspirant for the post of chairman of the bank. He also said he was not a member of any panel of candidates.

“I do not think there is a need for a fight between panels. I am not a member of any panel nor will I form one. I am fighting as an individual,” he said. To a query, however, he said that several like-minded persons were likely to join the bank. He also said he was willing to campaign for other candidates if they invited him. I am getting several invitations, I will consider them after consulting my friends and followers,’‘ he said.

“I want to serve the general public and farmers of Belagavi district. The BDCC bank is the most important financial institution in the district. It is the custodian of the finances of around 50 lakh people. If anything happens to this bank, the lives of 50 lakh people will be jeopardy. I want to protect it and grow it further. But I do not want to be the chairman. I have been associated with the bank since 1986. This is my ninth nomination. I have been the chairman for 10 years, a vice-chairman for five years and another 20 years as a director. I just want to support the bank’s management and offer my skills and experience if they want it,” he said.

Dismisses Jarkiholi’s claims

He dismissed as hearsay, claims by Satish Jarkiholi that the bank’s deposits had increased by over ₹200 crore after he quit. “Let us have data before us and have an open debate. I do not want to respond to hearsay,” he said.

He claimed that during his tenure, BDCC had benefitted from the highest amount of loan waivers for farmers. “I think we got over ₹3,400 crore in waivers for 3.81 lakh farmers. We also distributed zero interest loans to 4.58 lakh farmers over the years. I am here to see that such pro-people work continues. Some people are claiming that I will be kept away from the bank management. No one can keep me away from this institution that I helped build,’‘ he said.

He claimed that he had steered the bank from the brink of bankcruptcy to a situation where it was making profits. “We had no money to pay salaries in 1996. But we struggled hard and it made profits in the year 2005-06. No one wanted to become the chairman in 1996, but I volunteered,’‘ he said.

‘No permanent enemies’

To a query, he said MLA and Congress leader Laxman Savadi was a long-time friend and had worked with him in leading the bank. “We will be together in the future too,” he said.

He said that it was true that the Jarkiholi brothers had helped him become the chairman of the bank in the past and that he was willing to admit it in public. They helped me, but I also managed to gain the confidence of other members, he said.

About his differences of opinion with other leaders in the district like Mr. Jolle and the Jarkiholi brothers following his victory over their panel in the Rural Electric Cooperative Society of Hukkeri, Ramesh Katti said there were no permanent enemies in cooperation and politics. “Some differences of opinion crop up due to differences in attitudes. We may have drifted apart in the past, but may come together again. Anything can happen,’‘ he said.