Bihari Jagran Manch elects central committee uncontested, rival group serves legal notice

GANGTOK, 01 Oct: A press communiqué received from the chief election officer for election of central committee of the Sikkim Bihari Jagran Manch, Manoj Kumar Gupta, informs that the posts of president, vice-president, general secretary, joint secretary and treasurer were announced elected uncontested today. Following close on the heels of this announcement arrived allegations from a rival faction with Baliram Prasad, a founder member of SBJM, who is also the president of Ranipool branch, announcing that he has despatched a legal notice to the CEO and the entire election committee convinced that due norms for the election were not followed.

As per the press release issued by Mr. Gupta, the following have been elected uncontested: Swaminath Prasad as president, Uma Shanker Prasad as vice-president, Nanda Kishor Prasad, general secretary, Arjun Prasad Jaiswal as joint secretary and Parmeshwar Prasad as treasurer.
Mr. Gupta explains that after scrutiny, the election committee found the documents in order and since no one withdrew their nomination, all were declared uncontested winners to the Central Committee, Sikkim Bihari Jagaran Manch.
Mr. Prasad meanwhile has alleged that the election committee failed to conduct elections first in the branches, claiming that only elected executive body of the branches can vote for the central body elections. He also alleges that the committee did not give sufficient times to candidates to file nominations.
The legal notice, he informs, seeks to recall and make suitable corrections in the procedures and adds that if the committee fails to take the “appropriate, corrective measures” in within seven days and postpones the elections, he will approach the courts.
The release points out that the nomination fee of Rs 15,000 for the post of president and Rs 5,000 for the other posts were too high for a social organization, depriving the economically weaker section from the opportunity to contest the elections and was also discriminatory and unconstitutional as per the bye laws of the constitution of SBJM.
“It is felt that the Election committee has personal interest and being biased to elect person of their choice and not choice of the general members of the organization,” the release alleges.