Ex-councillors in fray for SGCCI VP post

Surat: On the last day to withdraw candidatures for the election to the post of vice-president of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), two candidates remained in the contest. Ten candidates who filed nominations withdrew their forms.

Now, Ashok Jirawala and Nitin Bharucha are contesting the post of VP. Ashok Jirawala is president of the Federation of Gujarat Weavers' Welfare Association (FOGWWA), a body that represents the textile weaving industry of the city and South Gujarat. Jirawala was a Congress municipal councillor and contested assembly elections on a Congress ticket in the past. He is currently a BJP worker. Bharucha too was a municipal councillor of the Congress and contested assembly elections on a Congress ticket. Bharucha is in the textile and packaging material business.

Bandana Bhattacharya, Mitish Modi, Hardik Shah, Janak Patchigar, Manish Kapadiya, Sanjay Gandhi, Bharat Vanawala, Mrunal Shukla, Nirav Mandlewala and Shailesh Desai withdrew their forms.

"On the last day for form withdrawal, the picture is clear and now there are only two candidates. If either withdraws, there will be no election and a VP will be elected uncontested," said Ramesh Vaghasiya, chairman of SGCCI's election committee.

Nikhil Madrasi and Manish Kapadia had contested in 2024 for the VP's post and had Madrasi won. In past elections, the city's business community tried to ensure elections did not take place and candidates were selected. This ensured harmony among business and industry leaders.

"Business and industry should make sure that a candidate is selected unanimously because elections in business organizations sometimes cause differences. It is expected that there will be no election this year too," said an industry leader.

For elections, SGCCI spends around Rs 5 lakh to hire polling staff, on the venue and on food. The elected VP is elevated to the president's post the next year if no one files a nomination for the post of president. This year, there is no challenger to Madrasi, who will take over as the new president from outgoing president Vijay Mevawala. In the past, VPs were promoted to the president's post.