The state legislature has passed an amendment nullifying a provision that barred candidates with criminal background. Persons with criminal records are no longer barred from contesting elections to cooperative societies which include cooperative banks, housing societies and sugar factories. The state legislature on Tuesday passed an amendment to the Maharashtra State Cooperative Societies Act (1960), nullifying a provision barring such persons from elections. Social activists and opposition parties have slammed the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition for the move.
In 2016, the Devendra Fadnavis government had amended a clause in the Act and barred people with criminal background. It had introduced the bill because of the Maharashtra State Cooperative (MSC ) Bank Scam.
