SUBHASH MISHRA
Ranchi, Jan 5: The nomination papers of all 23 candidates who filed for various posts in the Jharkhand State Health Service Association (JSHSA) elections for 2024 have been deemed valid after scrutiny.
The JSHSA Election Commission, led by Chief Commissioner Dr. Lal Majhi (Deputy Director of Health), along with Commissioners Dr. Prakash Kumar (Deputy Director of Health), Dr. R.K. Singh, and Dr. Vikash Kumar Gupta, conducted the scrutiny during a meeting held at the Ranchi Sadar Hospital conference hall. The papers submitted by candidates for posts such as president, vice-president, convener, secretary, treasurer, and joint secretary were carefully examined.
According to the election commissioners, the scrutiny session, which lasted two hours (from 2 PM to 4 PM), confirmed that all nomination papers were valid. They noted that all candidates were permanent employees of the state health department and life members of the JSHSA.
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Elections to Be Held for Select Posts
After the meeting, Chief Election Commissioner Dr. Lal Majhi announced that elections would be held on January 20, but only for three posts: state convener, secretary, and vice-president of the Kolhan Division. The remaining posts—including president, seven vice-presidents, treasurer, and seven joint secretaries—will be filled unopposed since no other candidates submitted nominations for those positions.
For the convener position, three candidates—Dr. Sharad Kumar, Dr. Sidheshwar Baskey, and Dr. Santosh Kumar—are in the race. For the secretary post, Dr. Thakur Mritunjay Kumar Singh and Dr. Krishna Murari Singh will contest. For the vice-president (Kolhan Division) post, Dr. Shahid Anwar and Dr. Jagannath Hembram are competing.
Unopposed Posts
Former Secretary Dr. Bimlesh Kumar Singh is set to be declared unopposed as the president. Although Dr. Amrendra Prasad of Ranchi initially filed a nomination for the post, he withdrew his candidacy within 24 hours in favour of Dr. Bimlesh Kumar Singh.
The treasurer, Dr. Stephen Xess, has also been elected unopposed for a second consecutive term. Similarly, the following vice presidents and joint secretaries are set to be elected unopposed:
Vice-Presidents:
- Ranchi Headquarters: Dr. Shamim Akhtar
- Dental Wing: Dr. Ravi Raj
- Women’s Wing: Dr. Mossarat Yamini
- South Chotanagpur: Dr. Anupam Kishore
- Palamu: Dr. Anshuman Sagar
- Santhal Division: Dr. Mohan Paswan
Joint Secretaries:
- Ranchi Headquarters: Dr. Ajit Kumar
- Kolhan Division: Dr. Dinesh Chandra Sawaiyan
- South Chotanagpur: Dr. Bal Krishna Mahto
- North Chotanagpur: Dr. Rahul Kumar
- Palamu: Dr. Chaman Kumar
- Dental Wing: Dr. Diksha Singhal
- Santhal Division: Dr. Ranvijay Kumar
With scrutiny completed and many candidates set to be elected unopposed, the stage is now set for the JSHSA elections on January 20, where the remaining contested posts will be decided.
