Basanth Kumar Patil is Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce’s new chief

Producer, distributor and actor, Basanth Kumar Patil, was elected president of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) for the second time, on Saturday. Also, electronic voting machines were used for the first time to conduct the polls.

Elections were held for the posts of chairman and other office-bearers. Patil defeated B Vijaykumar by more than 400 votes. Of the 1,212 votes polled, Patil won 759 votes, while Vijaykumar won 286 and Janakiram won 167.

On being elected president, Patil said: “I will retain the confidence of the industry people who supported me. I will take producers, directors and distributors into consideration and try to do good for the industry. My first priority is development of the film industry.”

Patil was known as a strict administrator when he was president of the Producers’ Association. He started a watchdog committee (Kaavalu Samiti) to curb various illegal activities that drained the producers’ revenue. Piracy was curbed to a large extent during his tenure as raids became frequent.

Apart form election to the president’s post, polls were held to elect three vice-presidents, three secretaries and one treasurer.