SUBHASH MISHRA
Ranchi, March 25: The stage is all set for the election of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Ranchi chapter president which is scheduled on March 26 at the IMA Building.
Chief Election Officer (CEO) of Ranchi IMA Dr Hallimuddin said that voting would kick start at 10 am and the voter doctors of the state capital will be able to cast their vote till 4 pm tomorrow. There are a total of 1800 doctors who are members of Ranchi IMA including Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS).
“Stage is set for conducting a fair and peaceful poll tomorrow. I along with Dr Chandrashekher ( second member of the election committee) would assess the preparation of election arrangements today to give final touch”, said Dr Hallimuddin.
The election will be held only for the presidential post. Dr Shambhu Prasad Singh and Dr Shekhar Choudhary Kajal are in a straight contest in the poll. Since both the candidates are considered veteran leaders of the IMA, the election is believed to be a tough encounter.
A senior member of the IMA said that it is a super Sunday election as its result would impact the state chapter election scheduled next year. Sources said Dr Shambhu Prasad Singh has the tactical support of officials from the present state body of IMA while Dr Shekhar Choudhary Kajal has the backing of a rival group (state IMA).
Dr Shambhu Prasad is president of the outgoing committee and Dr Shekhar Choudhary Kajal was state secretary from 2011 to 2013.
However, former IMA national vice-president Dr Ajay Kumar Singh stated that the result of the Ranchi district chapter election would not impact the state election in any way.
“Both elections are different. I can say as centre and state elections are different, same way district and state IMA elections are also different. Moreover Jamshedpur chapter of IMA also has the same numbers of delegates ( voter of state IMA) as Ranchi has. So, it is wrong to say the result of tomorrow’s poll would impact the fate of the state IMA election scheduled next year,” said Dr Ajay Kumar Singh.
IMA state secretary Dr Pradip Kumar Singh, who enjoys considerable influence among voters of Ranchi ( active IMA members), said that the state body has nothing to do with the Ranchi IMA election.
