Elections of Ex-Servicemen League (Himachal Pradesh), an organization of ex-servicemen of Himachal Pradesh, will be held on December 17. This will be the first time when the process of secret ballot will be adopted for electing the office bearers of this organization of ex-servicemen. Earlier till now, the delegates present at the election venue used to give consent or vote in favor of any candidate by raising their hands. This was among one of the issues when league’s elections were canceled in last October. After this, it was announced to hold re-elections in December.
Elections of Ex-Servicemen League (Himachal Pradesh) will be held in the League’s office being run in the Sainik Rest House in Dharamshala in Kangra district.
Himachal Pradesh Ex-servicemen league is affiliated to the Indian Ex-Services League which has its headquarters in the capital city New Delhi. League President Brigadier (Retd) Inder Mohan Singh has confirmed that two observers will be sent to Himachal Pradesh to conduct the elections. He said that due to practical reasons, observers are sent from neighboring states and like last time observers will be sent from Punjabthis time too. .
Major Vijay Singh Mankotia has been the President Ex-Servicemen League (Himachal Pradesh) for years. This time he is not contesting the elections. Vice President of United Front of Ex-Servicemen (JCO O R) Captain (Retd) Balak Ram Sharma said that this time three candidates are in the fray for the post of President are Major General DBS Rana, Lieutenant Colonel YS Rana and Captain Karam Chand Dhiman . Captain Kapoor Guleria will contest for the post of Secretary.
Seven delegates each sent by 25 committees will take part in the elections of this important state level organization of ex-servicemen. Last time, the elections were to be held on October 1, 2023, but due to the controversy, the observers took the decision to postpone them , after arriving here on September 30. The date of elections was earlier fixed for 18th December but in view of the date of session of Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, it has been preponed a day earlier i.e. 17th December.
Elected president and secretary choose their representatives at the lower level and committees are formed at the district level. But a section of ex-servicemen do not consider this method correct. They says that first committees or delegates should be elected at the lower level who will then send representatives for elections at the state level.
