SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, July 12: With the withdrawal of one vice-president candidate, a total of 11 candidates are now in the race for the four posts of the Jharkhand Health Service Association (JHSA) which is the frontal organization of medical officers (doctors) of the state government.
On the last date of withdrawal of nomination (till 12 pm on Monday), one vice-president candidate from Kolhan Division Dr Bimlesh Kumar (Sadar hospital Jamshedpur) withdrew his name from the contest. Now, Dr Alok Ranjan Mahto (Sadar hospital Khasmahal Jamshedpur) is all set to be elected as the vice-president of the Kolhan Division.
Now, the election would be held for the one post of president, one post of secretary, one post of convener and one post of vice-president from the Santhal Pargana Division.
Four candidates namely Dr Sahir Pall (additional chief medical officer, East Singhbhum), Dr Mohan Paswan (district reproductive child healthcare officer Sahibganj), Dr Padam Prakash Sah (Sadar hospital Khunti) and Dr Shankar Lal Murmu (Medical officer Sharwan, Deoghar) are in the race for the post of president.
The post of the secretary would witness a triangular contest between Thakur Mritunjay Kumar Singh (medical officer Chas, Bokaro), Dr Sidheshwar Baskey (medical officer CHC Silli Ranchi) and Dr Mritunjay Kumar Singh (medical officer Pakur).
For one post of JHSA convener, Dr Md Shamim Akhtar (medical officer CHC Gola, Ramgarh) and Dr Krishna Murari Singh of Ranchi are in a direct contest.
Besides these, the election would be also held for one vice-president post for the Santhal Pargana division where Dr Rajiv Kumar (medical officer of Deoghar Sadar hospital) and Dr Amit Thakur (medical officer of Pakur) are in the race.
Seven VPs, seven joint secretaries and one treasurer elected unopposed
Seven vice-presidents namely Dr Sharda Kumar (dental wing), Dr Meeta Sinha (female wing), Dr Alok Ranjan Mahto (Kolhan), Dr Amrendra Prasad (Ranchi headquarter), Dr Tanushree Chakraborty (North Chhotanagpur), and Dr Santosh Prasad (Palamu Division) have been elected unopposed.
Besides seven vice-presidents, all seven candidates for the joint secretary post have also been elected unopposed as no second candidate filed a nomination against them.
The joint secretaries are Dr Vikash Kumar Gupta (Ranchi), Dr Dinesh Chandra Swaiyan (Kolhan), Dr Basudha (S Chhotanagpur), Dr Rahul Kumar (N Chhotanagpur), Dr Suresh Kumar Ram (Palamu division), Dr Ehtesham Uddin (Santhal) and Dr Niket Choudhary (Dental) have been elected unopposed.
Apart from them, Dr Stephen Xess of Ranchi has been elected as the new treasurer of JHSA for the 2022-24 session. No other candidate filed a nomination against him.