Hold polls for vice-president’s post,Defence Ministry to DCB

The election to the office of vice-president of the board has been pending for the last one month as the one year term of the present vice-president,Sanjay Pinjan,had expired in August. Before Pinjan took over,the post was held by Ashok Shelar.

Pinjan said,“Ealier,the vice-president held office for 14 months and I can still continue.”

However a cantonment board member said that the special board meeting of the board can be held anytime next month to elect the vice-president. “There is no problem in the election to the office of the vice-president and it can be done any time. In the seven member cantonment board both Shelar and Pinjan had become the vice-president’s with the support of a lone NCP member. There is an alliance between the three independent members and a lone NCP members which raises their strength to four and they easily have a majority in the house. There Is no problem in the election to the office of Vice President as NCP and independent members together were in majority at the board,” he added.

DCB spokesman NM Mahajan said that the notification was issued by the Union Defence Ministry on August 23.

“We have circulated the notification for objections which are to be filed within 60 days. Union Defence Ministry has asked for holding a special board meeting for the election to the office of vice-president and even laid down the guidelines for the elections.”

He said that guidelines which have been laid specify that the notice for board meeting for the election to the office of the Vice President in which the elected members will vote should be given to them four days in advance.

“Besides asking that the notice should be given to the members four days in advance,the Defence Ministry notification has also specified that for the election one person should propose the name of the candidate while the other should second it. In case there are more than two candidates in the fray the election has to be done through the counting of the votes by making the members to raise the hands. If the two candidates get same number of votes,the election should be decided by drawing lots.”