In the Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association alias FOSTA, the largest organization of textile traders of Surat, a campaign has erupted regarding the conduct of executive elections. A memorandum has been given to the administrative officers in this regard by Tarachand Kasat, former president of FOSTA. Many market associations have also issued written letters of support for disassociating themselves from the organization until elections are held in FOSTA, following the CAST’s ‘Get Elections’ campaign. It was initiated by the market management of Japan Market. More market associations are also expected to be included in this list in the coming times. Let us inform that the CAST has also applied to the local police station for permission to organize a dharna in the market area.
On the other hand, Textile Yuva Brigade, another textile organization of Mandi, has even warned that if elections are not announced by FOSTA in the next one week, then all the associations of Textile Market will go ahead with the election process by nominating a parallel executive of 31 members. Will increase It has been pioneered by the president of the institution, Lalit Sharma. The Textile Yuva Brigade is an organization that has an army of activists at the grassroots level and once they are determined, they will create an anti-FOSTA environment on the Ring Road.It is to be noted that a few months ago, Gujarat State BJP President CR Patil has also expressed his displeasure and displeasure over the lack of democratic process in FOSTA without naming it.
In the midst of the above developments, for the time being, the established leaders of FOSTA are in silence. It has been the old policy of these office bearers to observe silence whenever there is a demand for elections, which has been successful for the last seven years. In the past years, there was a flurry of election for Fosta in many social media, which would start in the morning and end in the night. The commanders are probably feeling that this time also their silence will silence the voice of this ‘make elections’.But this time due to the market bustle, it seems that the wind is very strong!
The demand for holding Fosta elections this time is different from before. Indicatively, the political aspect is also hidden in this time’s ‘Get Elections’ campaign. Not business politics, but party politics. One of the reasons for this is that FOSTA has emerged as a powerful organization over the years which has an unquestionable dominance and penetration in the textile industry of Surat. At times it has also appeared that the strength of the organization can influence party politics. And in the present political situation in Gujarat, the ruling party would not like to allow any such organizational axis to be established, which directly or indirectly shows political damage. These situations had arisen during the mobilization of traders against the proposed increase in GST on clothes, after which the ruling party is vigilant. This time the ‘Election Karao’ campaign can also gain momentum because it has started after the remarks of the biggest politician of the state.
Market analysts believe that this time it will be better for the leaders of Fosta, sensing the exigencies of time, they themselves start the work of conducting elections for the work for which they were appointed in 2015. Due to this their credibility will also be saved and there will be a possibility that the ruling faction may also come back to power by holding new elections. Otherwise, if after political pressure and interference, they were forced to hold elections, then after tasting the pleasures of power for years, they may have to sit at home. Let us see how the camel of the FOSTA ‘Election Make’ campaign of 2022 sits.