All 11 directors of the Karnataka Lingayat Education Society (KLE) were elected unopposed in Belagavi on Thursday. This happened after Prabhakar Kore, former MP and long-time society chairman, withdrew his nomination. Mahantesh Koujalagi, MLA and Congress leader, remains the society president. Tatavati Basavaraja Shivalingappa was elected vice-president. Mahantesh Koujalagi has led the society before. His family has deep roots in KLE; both his father Shivanand Koujalagi and grandfather H.S. Koujalagi were directors. Similarly, Mahantesh Kavatagimath's father Mallikarjun Kavatagimath was also a director. S.S. Jalalapure, the returning officer, said voting scheduled in Hubballi and Belagavi has been cancelled. The board will meet on February 9 to elect the chairman, who holds real executive power. Prabhakar Kore had served as chairman for many terms but is not on the board this time, marking his first absence in 40 years. His children Preeti Dodwad and Amit Kore remain on the board. Ms. Dodwad has coordinated KLE's English Medium Schools, and Amit manages sugar factories. Prabhakar Kore joined the board in 1986 after his father's death. He was an active Congress leader until 2008, then joined BJP. He served as MLC once and Rajya Sabha member thrice. Now 78, he has largely stepped back from active politics since 2020. He has been the chancellor of KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research since 2016. KLE Society started in 1916 by seven teachers with a Kannada medium school at Belagavi. Today, it runs 316 institutions with 18,000 staff and over 1.45 lakh students. The reasons for Kore’s withdrawal are unclear. Those close to him say he wanted to make way for younger leaders. A new director said, "Except for a few directors like Mahantesh Kavatagimah and Mr. Koujalagi, most others are under 50. Despite our insistence, Mr. Kore refused to stay in the race." Speculation suggests Preeti Dodwad, Mahantesh Kavatagimath, or Mahantesh Koujalagi could become chairman. If Ms. Dodwad is chosen, she will be the first woman to lead KLE. One director said Kore might become chairman emeritus, taking a non-executive advisory role. Kannada activist Ashok Chandargi praised Kore: "For four decades, Mr. Prabhakar Kore built KLE in such a way that the society became synonymous with him. It is not easy to replace him. I congratulate him on his gesture of giving up power voluntarily. But we hope he continues his association with the biggest education institution in northern Karnataka." Under Kore's leadership, KLE grew from 30 to over 300 schools and colleges. He also promoted cultural activities like the 2003 Vishwa Kannada Sammelana and funded Kannada Bhavana in Belagavi. Theatre personality D.S. Chougale said, "We wish that he continues to guide and support artists."