Chaos marks Utkal Association Sakchi AGM over procedural dispute

Members accuse office-bearers of ignoring bylaws, demand transparency in election process

Jamshedpur, July 5: The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Utkal Association on Sunday ended in chaos after several members alleged that the meeting was conducted without following the procedures laid down in the association’s constitution.

Members raised objections to the functioning of President Dr. Sridhar Pradhan and General Secretary Tarun Mohanty, claiming that important issues were not discussed in a proper and transparent manner. They alleged that the meeting lacked structured discussion and decision-making as required under the organization’s bylaws.

According to members, an earlier AGM held on June 28 had taken up 18 agenda items but could not continue because only 112 of the association’s 873 registered members attended, resulting in the absence of the required quorum. The General Secretary had then announced that the meeting would be reconvened on July 5.

Members said they attended Sunday’s meeting expecting detailed discussions on the membership process and the upcoming election. However, they alleged that the office-bearers announced the election schedule and concluded the meeting within a few minutes without allowing any discussion on the agenda. They also claimed that the President and General Secretary left the venue immediately after the announcement.

The sudden conclusion of the meeting triggered protests from several members, including women participants, who demanded transparency, adherence to the association’s constitution, and decisions through majority voting. They also expressed concern over alleged irregularities in the membership process, saying such issues could affect the fairness of the forthcoming election.

Dissenting members further claimed that 16 of the 25 executive committee members elected in 2022 have already submitted a signed letter to the association’s trustees and patrons, expressing their disagreement with the present leadership. The incident has further intensified internal differences within the association, with members calling for a fair and constitutionally conducted election.