NASHIK: To the doubts and queries raised by candidate of Udyog Vikas Panel, Sanjay Mahajan about the AIMA’s election process, sitting President Varun Talwar has clarified that since the decision of the Returning Officer is final, there is no reason to doubt about it.
“We have always maintained that the electoral process should be neutral. However, cases like threatening candidates and forcing them to withdraw, making the voter list partially available, have started to make some sense. Therefore, there are doubts about how the election process will be conducted in a neutral manner,” said Sanjay Mahajan, a candidate of the Udyog Vikas Panel for the post of AIMA President.
The AIMA General Secretary who himself is a candidate, under his authority, is announcing the election programme and announcing it on the board. This is unfair, said Mahajan adding that the General Secretary is participating in the programme while the Returning Officer has been appointed for the election process of Ambad Industries and Manufacturers’ Association (AIMA).
The neutrality of the General Secretary is being questioned as on one hand he himself is contesting the elections while on the other hand intervening in the election process, alleged by opposition candidate. “As the General Secretary himself is a candidate, the Returning Officer should not allow or get him involve in the decision making process. The voter list should be made available along with named, addresses, emails and phone numbers,” demanded Mahajan.
On the last day of filing of nominations for AIMA election, 73 applications were received for 30 seats. The election process is underway for the election of AIMA for six seats on the executive board and 24 seats on the executive members.
A total of 15 candidates have filed nominations for six executive board seats, while 58 candidates have filed nominations for 24 executive member seats. After scrutiny and withdrawal of these applications, the actual picture of the election will become clear. The battle will be between the ruling party’s Ekta Panel and the Udyog Vikas Panel.
