Shekhar Golchha, executive director of Golchha Organisation, has been elected as the new senior vice-president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) garnering 63.3 percent of the total votes cast. 

In the election held for the post of senior vice-president on Tuesday, he defeated Kishore Kumar Pradhan to grab the second most powerful post of the private sector umbrella body.

Golchha’s victory has guaranteed his elevation to the post of FNCCI’s president in the next three years, as the charter of the umbrella body enables the senior vice-president to rise to the topmost post upon completion of the tenure of the incumbent president.

As the election wrapped up on Tuesday, the FNCCI now has a new executive body. The election, which saw 823 voters, was held at the FNCCI’s 51st annual general meeting. Golchha thanked his voters and said he will soon declare his action plan to drive the private sector’s apex body. “Our action plan will be declared by the first meeting of the newly elected executive committee,” said Golchha. 

Umesh Lal Shrestha from Golchha’s panel was elected as the vice-president representing commodities association by gathering 47 votes. His closest rival Shanker Pandey of Pradhan’s panel secured 38 votes, whereas Anup Malla garnered 11 votes.

Likewise, Pramod Shrestha from Pradhan’s panel secured the post of vice-president representing district/municipal chambers by gathering 53 votes. He narrowly defeated Dinesh Shrestha from Golchha’s panel who managed to secure 48 votes. Similarly, Chandra Prasad Dhakal from Golchha’s panel has been elected as the vice-president representing associates group. He was elected unanimously to the post after Pradhan chose to support him and didn’t field his candidate for the post. 

Golchha’s panel was able to secure most of the posts up for grabs, providing him absolute majority in the FNCCI’s executive body. This is expected to expedite decision-making process at the umbrella body.

Golchha’s panel won all the 19 seats allocated for members of the associate group. His panel also grabbed 16 out of 18 seats allotted for members of the district/municipal chamber, and 9 out of 14 seats for members of the commodities association. 

Election of all these people means the candidate that Golchha has fielded for the post of treasurer will definitely clinch the position. This is because the treasurer is elected through votes cast by elected executive committee members. Golchha has backed Gyanendra Lal Pradhan for treasurer’s post.

The newly elected committee will work under the leadership of Bhawani Rana for the next three years. The FNCCI’s special general meeting held in October 2016 enabled automatic elevation of the senior vice-president of the FNCCI to the post of president without taking part in the election. Thus, this provision led Rana to the post of president of the private sector apex body. This is the reason why all eyes were on election for the post of senior vice-president as like Rana, Golchha will be at the helm of the organization after three years without taking part in the election. 

Golchha is credited for expanding and taking the business initiated by his grandfather to newer heights. Under his leadership, the Golchha Organisation has evolved tremendously. 

From an enterprise that was predominantly focused on manufacturing, it has transformed into a multi-dimensional business house with investments in trading, information technology, banking and tourism.