Jamshedpur, June 29: About 47 per cent polling was registered during the annual elections of the Jamshedpur chapter of Indian Medical Association here today.

Altogether, 331 IMA members cast their votes. The local chapter of IMA has a membership strength of 700. The elections took place on the premises of the Institution of Engineers in Sakchi.

Counting was on at the time of filing the report. IMA officials said that the results would be declared late in the night.

Two senior doctors — A.C. Akhouri and A.K. Lal — were in the fray for the president’s post. Akhouri is the current president of IMA.

There were two contenders — Mritunjay Singh and Hari Prasad — for the post of the general secretary.

K.K. Chaudhary, A.V.K. Bakhla and R.P. Thakur contested for the post of vice-president while four candidates — O.P. Patro, R.N. Rai, A.K. Arya and Ashok Kumar were in the fray for the post of joint secretary.

Two posts have been allotted for vice-president and joint secretary. Nakul Chaudhary and M.M. Agarwal had filed nominations for the post of treasurer.

The election began at 5.15pm and continued till 8.30pm under the supervision of two observers.

The executive body of IMA comprises 18 posts of which two posts have been earmarked for women.

Contender for the post of general secretary Mritunjay Singh said that if elected his first priority would be to construct a hall at the IMA building in Sakchi.

In the absence of a hall, the IMA members are unable to hold frequent meetings and seminars.

He said that they would also support the cause of contract doctors, who recently moved the Jharkhand High Court on the issue of regularisation of their service.

Prior to the election, the members passed the annual budget during their annual general meeting.

Singh read out the annual report for the year 2007-08 and highlighted the activities of IMA undertaken throughout the year.

Akhouri presided over the annual general meeting and delivered the presidential address.