Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI), considered State’s largest trade body, will go to its annual elections on Sunday to choose members of its new executive council. With the GST Bill in the offing two prominent factions of the contestants Team RD Singh and Team Vinay Agarwal have put up high hopes from the polls expecting the voters to tilt in their favour.
A total of 2,790 voters are expected to exercise their franchise in Chamber election this year. Those taken membership after June 27 this year have been barred from voting. As many as 30 counters equipped with 18 computers have been deployed at Marwari Bhawan (Harmu), the venue, to ensure fair election.
Election in-charge lalit Kedia said that the preparations have been completed to conduct free and fair polls in the elections that would be conducted from 9 AM to 5 PM on Sunday. “CCTVs have been installed and large number of security personnel will also be deployed to ensure free and fair elections. Two observers from contestants may sit beside every computer. They will keep an eye on the voting process. Observers will have the rights to object for three times for any doubts.”
Meanwhile, the contestants went all out on the last day of campaigning to woo the voters. Huge billboards, advertisement banners and posters enveloped the city as the contestants forming both the teams visited several establishments for their door to door campaigning.
Team RD Singh members including RD Singh, Aditya Malhotra, Pankaj K Chaudhary, Kishore Mantri, PK Jain, Premchand Shrivastava, Puja Dhadha, Rajesh Khemka, Mahendra Thakkar, Jaiprakash Singhania, Anjali Jain Anil Agrawal among others took part in ‘Maha Arti’ at Pahari Temple on Saturday. The team also met businessmen at Ratu Road in the later part of the day before holding a dinner meet in the evening.
On the other hand, team Vinay Agarwal members also campaigned in the city and met voters at various establishments. The team members also organized a dinner meet in the evening on the eve of the elections.
Meanwhile, the second session of 52nd Annual General Meeting of FJCCI concluded at Chamber Bhawan today. The AGM, attended by 156 members, discussed on the tasks finished over its tenure and the road ahead for the new team after elections. FJCCI president Pawan Sharma thanked the members and government for supporting the trade body, while laying down the list of unfinished tasks for chamber.
Regional vice presidents of four divisions -- North Chhotanagpur (Ashok Jain), Palamu (Pradeep Kumar), South Chhotanagpur (Padam Saboo) and Kolhan (Alok Chaudhary) – were declared winners uncontested. Only Santhal Pargana vice president will be elected through polling.