Former CCI President demands investigation into CCI’s election rigging

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: Rakesh Gupta, former President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu, while addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, raised alarming concerns over the alleged rigging during the CCI’s elections held on April 23, 2023. Gupta presented substantial evidence to support his claims, accusing the then election president and others at the time of orchestrating a deliberate scheme to manipulate the electoral process. He highlighted numerous irregularities, including biased selection of polling agents from personal affiliations rather than impartial sources as mandated, and procedural violations such as allowing pre-ticked ballot papers and inconsistent pen usage during voting. Gupta criticized the lack of adherence to CCI’s Constitution and legal obligations, notably the absence of mandated CCTV footage and failure to maintain records of election materials and expenses.
He emphasized that despite concerns raised by members, no satisfactory explanations were provided, indicating a blatant disregard for transparency and fair practice. Urging immediate action, Gupta appealed to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, to initiate a thorough investigation into the election irregularities and compel the Registrar of Societies to issue a formal inquiry notice to CCI Jammu. He advocated for legislative amendments to ensure future elections of registered associations are conducted under the supervision of local authorities, akin to reforms adopted by the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industries.
Gupta’s statements underscored a plea for transparency and integrity in organizational governance, seeking to uphold democratic principles and restore public trust in CCI’s electoral processes.