With a fortnight to go for IMA polls, only five candidates in fray

Even while the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Ludhiana, polls continues to court controversies, it has now come to fore that the battle itself may not be as intense. Merely five candidates have thrown their hats in for the contest for most important seats—president, vice-senior president—even as the date for the polls draws close.

According to the association’s latest circular, only two posts-that for the senior vice-president and the vice-president—will see any contest at all, with each post having two candidates. While the candidate for the post president is likely to win uncontested, there is no candidate for the post of finance secretary. Two candidates for the post of senior vice-president and vice-president’s post are outgoing members of the association.
The association, which is scheduled to go to polls, on December 28, has the strength of over 1000 members.

The polls have so far been very controversial, with a confrontation of the president and chief election commissioner (CEC).

Association members attribute the poor response to the association’s eligibility criteria as well as getting no credit for the work done. “Members are not interested in the elections because it’s all work and no gain. Moreover, the association’s eligibility criteria hardly give a chance to the new comers,” said a member, seeking anonymity.
Dr Manoj Sobti, the former president of IMA Ludhiana and IMA Punjab, on the other hand, says the low response, which he calls unprecedented, is fallout of the controversy. Meanwhile, IMA Ludhiana general secretary Dr Deepak Parasher, seconded the current president stand and called the polls “unconstitutional”.

“A contesting member has also raised objections. Moreover, according to IMA’s constitution, only the president has the right to declare the president elect. Therefore, the CEC’s declaration of the president elect is violation of the association’s rules.”

Controvery erupted after CEC PS Jassal declared Dr Arun Gupta as presiden elect for 2016 on December 14. Following this, on December 15, current president Dr RK Sharma called the process unconstitutional.