The Nagpur branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has created history, as its whopping over 2,000 members exercised their franchise for the election of President of State IMA. For the first time, the Nagpur region of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) is going to polls to elect its President who will head the State body. This time, IMA claimed that it nominated noted ENT specialist Dr Prashant Nikhade, senior member of IMA, Past President of Nagpur IMA while well-known paediatrician Dr Manjusha Giri, Immediate Past President of Nagpur IMA filed a nomination leading to elections. As far as voting is concerned, IMA Nagpur had witnessed over 1,500 members casting their rights on two occasions in the past during local body polls when Dr Y S Deshpande and Dr Kishor Taori (late) were challenged by Dr Rajesh Ballal on two different occasions.

 

This time the voting reached 2,009, though 50 members could not cast their vote as their names were missing from the voting list. Various branches were allotted different days, and Sunday (September 7) was the last day when Nagpur, Virar, Mulund and some other branches held voting. Most major branches, like Mumbai and Pune, witnessed a poor voting. In several branches in Mumbai and Pune, only 1,40, 150 etc members turned up for the voting. Usually the region concerned of IMA nominates its candidate unanimously, ensuring his or her election.

 

The opposition to that system is now rising. Two years ago, the Vidarbha region too had gone to polls when IMA had claimed that it nominated Dr Dinesh Thakre of Amravati. But another group insisted on Dr Mangesh Gulwade of Chandrapur and an election was held. Same sentiments echoed for Nagpur region too as many felt that the nomination should not be decided by one particular group. There are nine regions of Maharashtra: IMA-Nagpur, Vidarbha, three regions of Konkan-Mumbai, Pune, North Maharashtra, Western Maharashtra, and Marathwada. Each region is given a chance to elect their President and it comes by rotation. Nine years ago Dr Y S Deshpande was elected unopposed. The ballot boxes are to be sent to Mumbai at IMA State Headquarters. They will be opened on September 14, 2025, and the result is likely to be out either by the same day evening or on September 15, 2025.