April 6: The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), the largest umbrella organization of industrialists in the country, is currently gripped by election fever. A total of 119 people have registered their candidacy for 64 positions to be elected at the 57th Annual General Meeting of the federation on April 11 and 12.

According to the election committee of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, there are three candidates for one post of senior vice president, eight candidates for three posts of vice presidents and 108 candidates for 60 members.

The election of the senior vice president is of particular interest because the senior vice president will automatically become the FNCCI president during the next term.

The candidates for this post include Ram Chandra Sanghai, Umesh Lal Shrestha and Anjan Shrestha. All the three candidates for the position of senior vice president have formed their own panels. This is the first time in the history of the federation that three election panels have been formed.

Ram Chandra Sanghai, who is also the current vice president, has nominated Sur Krishna Vaidya as the district vice president, Sukunta Lal Hirachan as the objective vice president and Jyotsana Shrestha as the associate vice president from his group.

Similarly, former vice-president Umesh Lal Shrestha has nominated Dinesh Shrestha, who is still in the same position, as the district vice-president and Hemraj Dhakal as the objective vice-president from his group.

The incumbent vice president Anjan Shrestha has nominated Arun Sumargi as the district vice president and Manish Lal Pradhan as the objective vice president from his group. Bharatraj Acharya is the common candidate for associate vice president from the groups of Umesh Lal Shrestha and Anjan Shrestha.

According to the provisions of the FNCCI, the tenure of the current president Shekhar Golchha will continue until the general assembly.

After the general meeting, Senior Vice President Chandra Dhakal will automatically become the next president.