The executive committee election of the Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) was cancelled in the wake of Covid-19 on Sunday after all 44 candidates filed their nominations for the polls. The new executive committee will be announced on December 19.
FJCCI General Secretary, Dhiraj Taneja said all the 44 members who filed their nominations held a meeting to discuss about the polling for the new executive committee on Sunday. “During the meeting it was decided that heavy crowd will gather on the polling date which is scheduled on December 20 which could invite Corona virus infection. In an attempt to provide safety cover to the members of the traders’ body, it was unanimously decided during the meeting to cancel the polls,” he added.
Before this, like every year this year also election for the largest organisation of businessmen and industrialists was laced with controversies.
This time Advocate Dipesh Niralahas filed an FIR with Chutia Police Station of the State Capital complaining that he was prevented from contesting the election. In a telephonic conversation with The Pioneer, Nirala said that the committee formed by the Chamber to supervise and conduct the election told him that he was terminated from the membership of the chamber but they have not informed Nirala either by mail or registered post. When Nirala asked the official to show the letter, through which they informed him about his termination they said that they will show him the letter after some days. After that he went to Chutia Police Station and filed a nomination.
Election supervising committee member, Pawan Sharma informed that the committee has been formed to conduct free and fair election of the executive committee of chamber and it has prevented Nirala to file nomination only on the ground of his termination, which took place around six months earlier.
Every year before the elections, the Chamber members are divided into factions. This is being seen in the Chamber for the last eight to ten years.
Chamber members have started contesting elections with their respective teams, whereas in the code of conduct of the Chamber, there is no mention of contesting in the team. Not only this, even after the elections, two teams are always formed in the chamber and are only seen accusing each other. Praveen Jain Chhabra and Kunal Ajmani are face to face in the Chamber elections this year. At the same time last year, Kunal Ajmani and Kishore Mantri contested against each other.
Ajmani is the current Chamber President. He was the General Secretary in the year 2018-19. This year also he is contesting for the top post saying that the team has not got sufficient time to work for the betterment of business and traders of the State due to State Assembly elections and COVID 19.
Again, two candidates are face to face in the election, Praveen Jain Chhabra and Kunal Ajmani. Chhabra is the Vice President in the current executive committee. Even before the announcement of election dates, Chhabra's name kept adding to the Chamber elections. At the same time, when the date was announced, allegations and counter allegations started between Ajmani and Chhabra.
This time also there are 44 members in fray and polling will be held on December, 20.