Race for GCCI's top post hots up

With the term of existing president of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) ending in June 2008, the trade body has started scouting for prospective candidates for the top post in the association.

The names doing the rounds are Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani Group, Torrent Group chairman Sudhir Mehta, Chintan Parikh of Ashima group, Sanjay Lalbhai of Arivind Group and Prakash Bhagvati of the Hiralal Bhagvati family.

Though the election dates are yet to be announced, the period between April 12 and April 26 is likely to be fixed for filing nominations, while April 30 might be the date of withdrawing the same.

"Elections would be held if consensus for the candidates is not arrived at. Otherwise, the association would announce the name of the elected member in the annual general meeting on June 30," sources close to the development said.

The GCCI has been mired in controversy for the past one month. Around 60 members of the association had protested against existing president Paruben Jaykrishna. Members had even proposed to move a no-confidence motion against the president. However, they dropped the idea following the intervention of Gautam Adani and past president Pankaj Patel, chairman of Zydus Healthcare.

"There is still unrest among the members but they are keeping mum so that the image of the association is not tarnished," said a member.