The Kerala State Co-operative Union (referred to hereinafter as the State Union is one established under S.89 of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969, (the Act). It consists of a general body and a managing committee. The latter consists inter alia of "two members elected from among themselves in such manner as may be prescribed by the members of the circle co-operative unions, elected under clause (d) of sub-section (1) of S.88". S.88 deal with the constitution of circle co-operative unions (circle union for short). Under sub clause (d) of clause (1) thereof, two of the members of a circle union are elected by the employees of Co-operative societies within the Circle. These employee members of the various circle unions have to elect two from among themselves as members of the managing committee of the State Union, as mentioned earlier.

2. An election was held for the purpose on February 6,1988 at which four candidates, namely the two petitioners and respondents 5 and 6 contested. The petitioners are employees of the Meenachil Rubber Marketing and Processing Cooperative Society Ltd. and Mattanur Co-operative Rural Bank Ltd. and had been elected as members of the M