Pune physiotherapists allege rigged national elections

The Pune chapter of the Indian Association of Physiotherapists (IAP) having 200 members is upset over the alleged rigging in the recently concluded elections of the IAP held in Vadodara on March 27.

IAP’s Pune branch convenor Dr Meenakshi Pandit told DNA on Saturday that 200 members from Pune and PCMC area were upset about the elections. “Many of us did not receive ballot papers and could not cast our votes. Almost 40% of us from Pune branch did not receive the ballot papers,’’ she said. Pandit said a general body meeting of the IAP was being convened in Mumbai on Sunday, which would be attended by several physiotherapists from Pune. “We will attend the Mumbai meeting on Sunday and if given a chance, would like to vote for our contestants,’’ she said.

The 24th IAP elections are in the eye of a storm after 6,000 votes emerged out of Vadodara, where there are only 1,000 voters.
Ali Irani, national president, IAP told DNA from Mumbai on Saturday that 70% of the members from Maharashtra had failed to get their ballot papers. “Doubts are being raised of forgery. These matters will be investigated as a committee will be formed that will probe this matter on Sunday. A general body meeting on Sunday at 11 am in Mumbai has been called where all members from India will be present,’’ Irani said

Irani said, “We have received more than 800 emails protesting against the elections. Everybody has requested a probe and we plan to call this election null and void as there seems to be a lot of goof up and forgery which is obvious.’’

IAP is an all-India body comprising more than 30,000 physiotherapists across India.

There are more than 250 colleges affiliated to the IAP. It is the biggest association for physiotherapists across the country and is a member of World Confederation of Physical Therapists (WCPT-World Council).