ICAI goes to polls today

Ending months of campaign, which prompted the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to issue some of the oddest directives such as those requesting a curb on SMSes and emails sent by candidates, the apex body of auditing professionals in the country is going to polls tomorrow.

Eighty candidates are contesting to secure a place in the 32-member central council, while 149 candidates are in the fray to be elected to the five regional councils of the institute.

The elections, being held after a three-year gap, will see all eligible voters among its 150,000 members moving to 342 polling booths across the country on December 4 and 5. Postal ballots are also allowed for overseas members. The next central council will be known by December 17.

Amarjit Chopra, ICAI’s current vice-president and president hopeful is contesting the election from the Northern region. Conventionally, the vice-presidents are always consensus candidates to the post of the next president, while central council members vote to decide a new vice-president every year.