Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) member voters poured in from across the State at Marwari Bhawan (Harmu Road) to cast their franchise on Sunday to elect next office bearer team of 21 members out of 43 in battlefield.
Both the team leaders fighting for the presidential chair in the largest trade body in State, Mukul Taneja and Ranjeet Garodia have expressed their confidence of grabbing the chair after counting of votes takes place and concludes on Monday.
Election Chairman for this year election of FJCCI lalit Kedia said after poling was over that 2,380 out of 3,002 voters entertained their right of franchise on the day. “Everything before counting has passed peacefully and we have succeeded to conduct free and fair election with neither of the presidential candidates objecting to anything in process so far,” said Kedia.
Outgoing President Vinay Agrawal said that the Chamber had done great job of solving issues of traders in State during one year of his tenure. “We tried our best to get connected not only with the traders of the State but have also tried to have our say heard in government and taken seriously meanwhile,” said Agrawal.
Interestingly, both Ranjeet Garodia and Mukul Taneja called counting of votes on Monday a mere formality, as victory of their team remained assured. “I am sure at least 13 of my team members are going to taste victory,” said both the leaders while voting was on.
Many of the voters were overheard saying that Ranjeet Garodia could have an edge being a Chartered Accountant (CA), as traders were struggling with successful implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST). “But you know, GST is not the only issue which has been sucking the traders. You have issues like law and order, electricity and others. Most importantly, one will have to take the pole position and make this Chamber effective in every corner of the State and I believe Mukul Taneja might have an edge over Garodia with his experience,” said one of the past presidents requesting not to be named.
Notably, both the teams had organised extensive padyatras and visits to different parts of State including dozens of public relation meetings in city to lure voters. Team Mukul Taneja kept pushing experience factor which was required to take Chamber ahead, while team Ranjeet Garodia lured voters saying that his team was young and fresh enough to understand problems of young generations in trade in State.